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
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of near
Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026
Celebrini is excited to see forwards Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev near a return to the active roster after spending the last four weeks on injured reserve.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 Jan. 2026
New technology in this domain promises to provide firm, dispatchable power, as well as to expand beyond areas where heat is confined to near-surface areas.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Jenny Wiegand, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Overnight temperatures will dip near or below zero.
—Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
By 2000, global primary school enrollment had risen dramatically, with many countries nearing universal access for the first time.
—Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for near
Preposition
The doubling of banana prices is due to a disease that is driving the Cavendish, the world’s most popular banana, toward near extinction, Lempert said.
—Charlotte Observer, 13 Jan. 2026
Celebrini is excited to see forwards Will Smith and Philipp Kurashev near a return to the active roster after spending the last four weeks on injured reserve.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
In the near term, however, there’s TV history to be made … and the, um, Tiricommander-in-chief will be at the center of it all.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 30 Jan. 2026
New technology in this domain promises to provide firm, dispatchable power, as well as to expand beyond areas where heat is confined to near-surface areas.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Adverb
Testers praised its traditional four-buckle design, excellent energy transfer, and near-perfect balance between a high-performance fit and just enough comfort to set it apart from a true plug boot.
—Jenny Wiegand, Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Overnight temperatures will dip near or below zero.
—Kansas City Star, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
Now nearing 70, Jennifer’s parents said their determination has not faded since the search began two decades ago.
—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
By 2000, global primary school enrollment had risen dramatically, with many countries nearing universal access for the first time.
—Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for near
Recent Examples of Synonyms for near
Preposition
-
In addition to where in the stadium tickets can purchased, Razorback Foundation donor levels and priority points also dictate how parking passes around the stadium are distributed and how many tickets are available for purchase in certain sections.—
Matt Jones,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Troy’s older brother Carl just couldn’t get his head around it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
During the search for their next head coach, the Steelers interviewed a number of candidates, many of them young assistants in the vein of Noll, Mike Tomlin and Bill Cowher, all of whom arrived in Pittsburgh as relative unknowns and left with Super Bowl rings and Hall of Fame-worthy resumes.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Even in the relative seclusion of our home, the world has found us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
While 10 mice died and some flies didn’t survive, most of the animals came back alive, giving scientists valuable insight into how living organisms cope with spaceflight.—
Monisha Ravisetti,
Space.com,
27 Dec. 2025
-
In a breakthrough that reimagines how living tissue can drive machines, researchers at MIT have developed artificial tendons made from tough, flexible hydrogel.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
In recent years, Rivkin has formed a close bond with Olga Smirnova, a clinical social worker who visits him weekly through a home-visit program run by Maimonides Medical Center.—
Hannah Kliger,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Mémoires Colorées was born out of Patrick Frey’s (who currently helms Pierre Frey) close friendship with Belgian artist and paper sculptor Isabelle de Borchgrave.—
Stephanie Sporn,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
These films often took familiar genres or plot structures but then told those stories through a distinctly Korean lens.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The memoir turns instead into a broad and essentially familiar discourse about ambition as a route out of challenging family circumstances; the pursuit of conventional success leading to alienation; the frequent clash between career and parenthood.—
Lily Meyer,
The Atlantic,
29 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
Jane Ciabattari Talks to the Author of Vigil Those who are regular readers of George Saunders’ Story Club Substack were in for a treat on the tenth of December 2025 (a date chosen in honor of his story collection, a National Book Award finalist and Story Prize winner).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
To a certain extent, knowing the ultimate outcome in advance — as in, looking into the case online before watching the documentary — would do nothing to diminish the power of a film that operates almost entirely on emotional logic, or the lack thereof.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
With a simple yet stylish presentation, the 2026 Indian Chief Vintage features an 116-cubic-inch motor that closely resembles the 74-cubic-inch motor from the 1940s in both form and function.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Josh McDaniels, who worked closely with Belichick during those Super Bowl years, is alongside Vrabel as well.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Adverb
-
ServiceNow lost almost 10% and Datadog was down nearly 9% amid fears that AI could take away more of their business .—
Jason Gewirtz,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The silk mousseline garments floated almost like ghosts or memories of Chanel designs past, including the famous skirt suit with its matching cardigan and Karl Lagerfeld modernisms like jeans with a tweed jacket, plus the iconic flap bag.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Near.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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