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love 1 of 2

verb

ˈləv How to pronounce love (audio)
Definition of lovenext
1
as in to adore
to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for a husband who loves his wife more than anything

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to treasure
to hold dear patriots who loved their country well enough to die for it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to enjoy
to take pleasure in I love playing Frisbee in the summer rain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to caress
to touch or handle in a tender or loving manner the baby responded to my caresses and kisses by loving me right back

Synonyms & Similar Words

love

2 of 2

noun

ˈləv How to pronounce love (audio)
1
as in affection
a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone her love for her children was truly selfless

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in darling
a person with whom one is in love she is the love of my life

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in liking
positive regard for something a love of chocolate, which I will pay anything to indulge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in affair
a brief romantic relationship he refused to discuss past loves

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of love
Verb
But to anyone who has read and loved her work, the desire for the space and time and quiet to read and concentrate makes perfect sense. — Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026 Andy Kotelnicki would love to reenact one of the greatest moments in sports history after the final seconds tick off the clock in the Kansas-Arizona State football game Saturday at tradition-rich Wembley Stadium in London, England. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026
Noun
The premiere episode centered around the usual suspects, Cartman, Stan, Kyle and Kenny, and their newfound love of e-bikes. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026 This Valentine’s Day, fall in love with a shimmery lion played by Meryl Streep. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for love
Recent Examples of Synonyms for love
  1. adore
  2. treasure
  3. enjoy
  4. caress
  5. affection
  6. darling
  7. liking
  8. affair
Verb
  • Yet, he was announced as the player of the match in the stadium, is adored and respected by fans and coaches alike at Bournemouth, and his qualities will inevitably bring external transfer interest.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Literary scholars have since described the book as highly sanitized, based largely on the family’s adoring memories, and shaped by the social ideals of Victorian England.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of adore
Verb
  • After a brief stint in the transfer portal in January, the former Hawklet stayed in Ann Arbor where his length (6-7, 310) and power in the run game are treasured.
    — PJ Green September 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026
  • One aspect of Eloise’s personality that her parents and brother treasure the most is her connection with animals, from family pets to the deer and horses roaming on the ranch.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of treasure
Verb
  • Aston Villa and Chelsea, for example, exchanged four players over the summer, with The Athletic reporting that the two organisations enjoy a strong relationship.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Home to the world’s largest Japanese diaspora, as well as sizeable Korean and Chinese communities, the Brazilian megacity of São Paulo is one of the best places outside Asia to enjoy Asian food, said Austin Bush in Travel + Leisure.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of enjoy
Verb
  • Breasts are caressed and thighs crisscross; kisses are planted, and occasionally there’s a glimpse of something more graphic.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In one video, pop singer Madison Beer was seen caressing Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert's face as if the two were shooting a scene straight out of a reality show.
    — Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of caress
Noun
  • Marian Keyes’ beloved characters were brilliantly brought to life by Stefanie Preissner and directed with real affection by Ian Fitzgibbon.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
  • In recent conversations with The Athletic, two coaches with deep affection for their alma mater described having the Camp Randall rug yanked from underneath them.
    — Tim Graham, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of affection
Noun
  • Training camp darling Dohnte Meyers contributed a slick catch-and-run, as did third-down back Samaje Perine.
    — Zak Keefer, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2026
  • In the ’90s and early 2000s, Sarah Jessica Parker cemented herself as a bona fide fashion darling, wearing looks from designers like Oscar de La Renta and Chanel.
    — Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of darling
Noun
  • If that isn’t enough sand for your liking, the hotel also offers private access to idyllic Doctor’s Cave Beach and its gentle surf.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
  • An update on inflation across the United States that came in close to economists’ expectations, even if prices are still rising too quickly for everyone’s liking, also helped calm the market.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of liking
Noun
  • Dmitriy Mazurov plays successful company director Gleb, whose seemingly perfect life starts to unravel, not due to the conflict however, but rather his suspicions that his wife (Iris Lebedeva) is having an affair.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
  • At 53 years old, Feng Xia, a Chinese immigrant in Montreal, finally confronts her repressed desire for women and begins a secret affair with a young Québécoise.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of affair

Phrases Containing love

Browse Nearby Words

lovable
love
love affair
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Cite this Entry

“Love.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/love. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on love

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about love

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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