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
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
-
This series has been distinguished by its intimacy, which comes with having access to the house in which Heuermann lived (and killed), and on-camera interviews with his ex-wife (who divorced Heuermann following his arrest) and his daughter.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Their rekindled relationship illustrates the dissonance of familial expectations and intimacy with a parent one barely knows.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Or maybe proximity to the beach, whether its Nobadeer or Madaket, is your priority.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Its proximity to the Downtown Manhattan Helipad—a 30 second ride in the Aston Martin—is fortuitous, since the typical Casa Cipriani guest is likely catching a 15-minute helicopter ride to JFK, or, if flying private, to Newark or Teterboro.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Sets would be built and then junked only to be rebuilt again at considerable cost due to an overall lack of familiarity with standard Hollywood filmmaking procedures.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Yet there's a sense of familiarity, a return to their origins in both heritage and early hip-hop influences.—
Jane Mo,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Part of plant etiquette is to keep track of all your belongings, including edibles, and not litter the plant displays.—
Erica Browne Grivas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Inside, you’ll be met with the spacious main compartment along with several smaller pockets to organize your belongings.—
Olivia Dubyak,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
He was warmly welcomed in the chamber, and much of his speech focused on the kinship and history between the US and the UK.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Because at its core, this legal drama that revolves around artificial intelligence is actually rooted in the very human impulses of kinship, greed, betrayal, and power.—
Tom Dotan,
Vanity Fair,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nearness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nearness. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
