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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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
Below are a few to consider for your own stack, written by living authors Kingsolver loves. — Casey Cep, New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2026 But Reed is typically a very motivated player who loves the game. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Noun
My love for Ayr United in the second-tier Scottish Championship is far more exhilarating, in my opinion, and is something that will never be broken. — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026 Bateman’s of the mindset that, at the end of the day, everyone’s looking for love and connection. — Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 24 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
  • Victorians adored houseplants and incorporated them into their interiors with gleeful maximalist excess.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The evening was a fitting toast to the shoe maestro, who celebrated his past, present and future alongside an adoring Milan Fashion Week crowd and influential actresses and models, including Naomi Watts.
    — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 25 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
  • Members of The Center for Fiction enjoy invitations, discounts, access to our Library collection, and more.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Days after Chinese leader Xi Jinping left Washington having enjoyed a state dinner and a marching band, both sides are still figuring out what the pageantry actually bought them.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 28 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
  • With the Moon in your sign opposing Venus in your partnership zone, affection could feel wonderful one minute and intrusive the next.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Inside, the hotel's affection for old Florida reveals itself one detail at a time.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of affection
Noun
  • Labubu — the coolest kid on the bag charm block is now Coach’s Ducky, a darling creation composed of shearling, felt, and vachetta leather.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Conclave proved an audience hit as well as an award darling, generating over $125 million at the global box office on a $20 million budget.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of darling
Noun
  • Content creator Josh Lora, also known as @tellthebees, posted on TikTok that people are trying to rewrite the reality of professionalism to their liking—and that those who bring coffee into an interview won’t get the job.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Through circumstance and timing, DeSantis has used appointments to drastically shape Florida politics — and its judiciary — to his liking, gifting allies the levers of power and the benefit of incumbency.
    — Zoe Millán, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of liking
Noun
  • Leder is a prominent voice in American Jewish affairs, authoring books and regularly appearing as a guest on national news programs.
    — Gary Baum, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The report also fails to consider regulatory databases in the United States and the European Union, said Kimberly Wise White, vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs at the American Chemistry Council.
    — Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 30 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 1 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on love

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about love

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