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
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 nearness
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
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
-
Your curiosity leads toward intimacy.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Reviewing the product for The New York Times, the journalist and parent Amanda Hess expressed her surprise at how deftly Grem sought to create connection and intimacy in conversation.—
Damon Beres,
The Atlantic,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Lots of outdoor activities make the city a win for families, retirees, and couples, and the proximity to Austin is a perk for commuters and those looking for more affordable homes outside the capital.—
Amanda Ogle,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
This is where we are collectively called to look at where familiarity and longing are actually a form of confinement.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Waterman is frustrated by the situation at Southland Center, noting the impact the bus stop closure would have on students who rely on their familiarity with specific landmarks to chart their way and for how mall management has reacted to outreach from him and others.—
Eric D. Lawrence,
Freep.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The British-Muslim coming-of-age drama follows two teenage girls who run away from troubled lives, confronting radicalization, identity and belonging.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The woman had been on her back porch cleaning household items when the suspect approached and demanded her belongings.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In Texas, kids taken into state custody leave a kinship placement twice as often as the nationwide rate, according to a USA TODAY analysis of federal data tracking kids removed from their homes in a four-year period.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Murphy, who like Steininger and Yurkevich has been exploring the question for its own sake, independent of his day job, feels a kinship across the centuries with Prince Rupert.—
Erica Klarreich,
Quanta Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nearness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nearness. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share