1
as in intimacy
the state of being in a very personal or private relationship
my cousin and I have lost that nearness we had when we were kids
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proximity
the state or condition of being near
our nearness to the theme park has made us beloved by relatives from all over the country
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nearness
City officials say the project is complicated because of the nearness of the freeway and the Los Angeles River.
—
Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
That tension—between nearness and distance, inside and outside—defines the film’s structure and tone.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
The nearness of bees, and of other things that agitate most people, calms me.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
Overstating the nearness of human-level intelligence or ignoring ethical, safety, and energy concerns erodes trust and triggers backlash.
—Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
That tension—between nearness and distance, inside and outside—defines the film’s structure and tone.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
The nearness of bees, and of other things that agitate most people, calms me.
—Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
Overstating the nearness of human-level intelligence or ignoring ethical, safety, and energy concerns erodes trust and triggers backlash.
—Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nearness
Noun
-
Today could stir up deep thoughts around trust, intimacy, finances or emotional entanglements that have become mentally exhausting.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
Alberto Iglesias’ Hitchcockian-sounding score however misses the mood this time, too big for the intimacy of this tale.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
With two Canadian host cities and a home crowd to play to, that absence is conspicuous in a roster otherwise built around proximity to the action.—
Maureen Kerr,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Another consideration for those monitoring at home is proximity to medical care.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Disney can point to decades of advertiser familiarity with ESPN, ABC and the Super Bowl.—
Maureen Kerr,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Cancer is, after all, associated with emotional instincts, vulnerability and secrets only the moon knows of, so this transit can often evoke a collective desire for reassurance, affection and familiarity.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
During these sweeps, people often lose essential belongings such as IDs, medication, and survival gear.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
McDermott left behind a bag full of belongings on his boat The Freedom, and his car in the parking lot of San Pedro's 22nd Street Marina, the Los Angeles Times reported at the time.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Collins admits to feeling a kinship with Simpson, who was the target of the tabloids of her day.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
-
At the hospital, Feldman and others wondered how to help kinship families beyond children’s medical treatment.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nearness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nearness. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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