1
2
as in relative
being such only when compared to something else
the incessant busyness of the family next-door makes us look like we live in near retirement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in living
closely resembling the object imitated
the dress is made from a near silk that would fool anyone but an expert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in close
not being distant in time, space, or significance
the famous prediction that in the near future everyone will be famous for 15 minutes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in familiar
closely acquainted
only her nearest friends know she's pregnant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in in
at, within, or to a short distance or time
as the campers grew cold, so they gravitated nearer to the campfire as summer draws near, we usually start planning our annual vacation
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in almost
very close to but not completely
it's near six o'clock, so we should start preparing dinner
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in approximately
close to but not exactly
it takes somewhere near an hour to get there
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to close
to come near or nearer
as the procession nears, you'll be able to take a better picture of the graduates
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of near
Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Troopers were investigating a fatal collision on Interstate 96 near Outer Drive when a crash involving a semitruck and an SUV happened at a nearby exit ramp, officials said.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Thoughts turn now to how things will look in the near future.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
The Spurs will run Wembanyama around screens that most 7-footers wouldn’t go near.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Mark Dee
march 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
Polis' latest artificial intelligence task force, which has been tasked with rewriting Colorado's artificial intelligence regulations, is finally nearing its last hours.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for near
Preposition
Israel has continued near-daily strikes, primarily in southern Lebanon, saying Hezbollah had been trying to rebuild its positions there.
—Dallas Morning News, 8 Mar. 2026
Troopers were investigating a fatal collision on Interstate 96 near Outer Drive when a crash involving a semitruck and an SUV happened at a nearby exit ramp, officials said.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Traffic through the critical waterway has since ground to a near halt, with vessels being attacked and insurers dropping maritime coverage.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026
Thoughts turn now to how things will look in the near future.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2026
Adverb
That would be about half of last year’s enrollment and represent a near-erasure of all gains in marketplace sign-ups since 2021, when the enhanced subsidies took effect.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 6 Mar. 2026
The Spurs will run Wembanyama around screens that most 7-footers wouldn’t go near.
—Fred Katz, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
After years in decline, the waitlist for monthly passes systemwide roughly tripled since last March, now nearing 150 people.
—Mark Dee
march 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Mar. 2026
Polis' latest artificial intelligence task force, which has been tasked with rewriting Colorado's artificial intelligence regulations, is finally nearing its last hours.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for near
Recent Examples of Synonyms for near
Preposition
-
Shipping intelligence data provider Kpler estimates around 12 million barrels of crude oil to have passed through the strait since the war started.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Tensions around the oil-rich Persian Gulf surged on Tuesday as the United States carried out some of the heaviest strikes of the ongoing war with Iran.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But Ryer attributed the relative silence to resignation in the face of Democrats' political advantage.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Tuesday's launch was a relative rarity for SpaceX these days — a mission that wasn't devoted to building out the company's giant Starlink broadband megaconstellation.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Now, scientists have created a highly efficient AI model that hints at how living brains are able to do so much with so little, a team reports in the journal Nature.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Custom drapery can enhance serenity and flow in living spaces, bedrooms and reading nooks, creating an ambience reminiscent of the local coffee shop or bookstore.—
Gretchen M. Stone,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The most appropriate action is to drive to the closest shelter available.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The virus can spread through close contact with someone who is infected, such as by sharing food or eating utensils.—
Jasmine Mendez
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Kaplan has represented District 1 since 2022, but is a familiar name in local politics.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Nearly every cinematic space voyage, however far flung, brushes up against familiar terrain.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The moment the band members began this chant at Woodstock became arguably the biggest moment of their careers, with over 400,000 people joining in.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The core concept that drives Rooster is Greg’s desire to swoop in and help his daughter, Katie (Charly Clive), after her husband cheats on her with a younger woman.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Richard Kahn, who worked closely with Epstein for years and now serves as an executor of his estate, appeared for the closed deposition on Capitol Hill.—
STEPHEN GROVES THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The rooms The 99 rooms are vaguely Moroccan-inspired and connect closely to the surrounding jungle.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
And nearly every business, supply chain expert, and economist who examined the data concluded that the costs fell almost entirely on American firms and consumers, not on foreign exporters.—
Jay Caruso,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
One poll this week found that almost half of Americans blame Trump for more expensive gas, even as the president rolls out a host of new proposals to keep oil flowing worldwide.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Near.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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