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
-
The tragicomic look at two lives on hold struck a chord; its depiction of a family bickering and bantering, and of the risks of intimacy, felt specific and true.—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
This was especially true at the start of the month, as the moon reached its peak in harmony-seeking Libra on April 1, highlighting your eighth house of intimacy, depth and vulnerability.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
When in a forest, stay in proximity to shorter tree groupings.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Right now the comet is difficult to monitor because of its proximity to our star.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The storylines and analogies Brown uses vary in familiarity.—
Haley Sawyer,
Daily News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
It’s helped bring a sense of familiarity as spring practice kicked off this week.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These items provide a direct connection to the ordinary sailors who fought and died aboard the Dannebroge, not just the officers whose belongings typically survive in museum collections.—
Samantha Agate,
Kansas City Star,
5 Apr. 2026
-
His killing prompted the remaining villagers — including his brother — to pack up their belongings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The cover girl is Ger van Braam, an Indonesian woman who subscribed to The Ladder and sent her picture to the editor in search of kinship.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
-
An unexpected kinship develops between the would-be forger (Lori Butler, played by Michaela Coel) and the artist (Julian Sklar, played by Ian McKellen).—
Devorah Lauter,
ARTnews.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nearness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nearness. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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