1
as in affectionate
feeling or showing love
they were a loving family, supporting each other when times were bad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in careful
taking, showing, or involving great care and effort
the homemade costume clearly showed the loving work that had gone into it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in valuing
to hold dear
patriots who loved their country well enough to die for it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adoring
to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for
a husband who loves his wife more than anything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in enjoying
to take pleasure in
I love playing Frisbee in the summer rain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in caressing
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
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 loving
Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 26 Feb. 2026
Recently, though, her charisma, cutting humor and being a loving mother have somehow eclipsed those accusations, and not even an entire TLC docuseries about her and her church could dent put a dent in her popularity.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026
Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
The post includes a photo of the family of five, and another shows Chet’s big brothers loving on him.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for loving
Adjective
Everyone’s been so receptive and loving and the fans, players, everyone alike, the community.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 26 Feb. 2026
Recently, though, her charisma, cutting humor and being a loving mother have somehow eclipsed those accusations, and not even an entire TLC docuseries about her and her church could dent put a dent in her popularity.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
But what gets me most excited is the loving family experiences, the relationships with neighbors and friends, the pride in community accomplishments, the lives touched by unselfishness.
—Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
The post includes a photo of the family of five, and another shows Chet’s big brothers loving on him.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for loving
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loving
Adjective
-
Vida, played by Gobel, is edgy, angry and withdrawn around the younger, more free-spirited and affectionate Dodie, played by Summer Broyhill.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Happy Hour is gentle and affectionate and loves to rub against your legs and get lots of pets.—
Maryanne Dell,
Oc Register,
28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 Feb. 2026
-
To make the most of spring planting, start with site preparation and careful plant selection.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As well as valuing the pace that helps his wingers exploit spaces out wide, Rosenior’s style also demands those players drop deeper to help build play.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The more politically testy task has been valuing office buildings, stores and warehouses.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Loyal and reliable, Dogs are both adoring and adored—the best friends in the Zodiac.—
Kyle Lucia Wu,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Often decked out in her Girl Scout vest and speaking in a soft voice, the question has earned her thousands of sales and adoring fans on TikTok.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Winners will serve as island custodians, agreeing to basic stewardship responsibilities while enjoying peace, nature, and nearby local communities.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Working parents may not be able to carve out the time needed for things like unstructured play or simply enjoying downtime with their kids.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The basis of the important therapy stems from studies showing that holding and caressing an animal provides benefits such as relaxation, lower blood pressure, decreasing anxiety, and increasing positivity, according to the news release.—
Dawn Giangiulio,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Williams knows how to humanize this bare-bones vocabulary, minutely adjusting the voicing of a chord or caressing the last of a set of recurring motifs with a regretful ritardando.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The fossils were collected between 2021 and 2024 — years of meticulous excavation and study.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Dive into a world where timeless elegance and meticulous craftsmanship reign supreme.—
Kevin Huynh,
InStyle,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The garments are purposefully ratty, as if to prove that signs of wear and tear are also signs of cherishing.—
Air Mail,
Air Mail,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Collins is soaking in every moment of motherhood, cherishing each first moment with her little one.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
31 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Loving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loving. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
