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
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
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.
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Recent Examples of near
Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
The commission approved for Petrovich to build 31 homes on a different vacant parcel within the development near the corner of 10th Avenue and Crocker Drive.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 24 May 2025
Nidia Cavazos, CBS News, 23 May 2025
Lionsgate will announce a new release date in the near future, the most recent one being Oct. 3 this year.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
And the jersey has the DNA, literally and figuratively, of the near crippling anxiety felt by Maris in the face of a very vocal pushback against his quest, first in competing neck-and-neck with the beloved Mickey Mantle for the record and then in favor of Ruth.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Matt Minton, Variety, 21 May 2025
Alonso hasn’t homered in 52 at-bats, nearing the longest streak of his career without going yard.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for near
Preposition
Hundreds of National Guard troops staged near the park.
—Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 24 May 2025
The commission approved for Petrovich to build 31 homes on a different vacant parcel within the development near the corner of 10th Avenue and Crocker Drive.
—Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 24 May 2025
Adjective
Two Department of Homeland Security officials told CBS News that ICE is conducting an operation to expedite the deportation of migrants with court hearings scheduled in the near future.
—Nidia Cavazos, CBS News, 23 May 2025
Lionsgate will announce a new release date in the near future, the most recent one being Oct. 3 this year.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 23 May 2025
Adverb
For years now, the author has been on a near single-minded social media crusade against transgender women, and more recently has begun lending the campaign her financial support too.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 26 Apr. 2025
And the jersey has the DNA, literally and figuratively, of the near crippling anxiety felt by Maris in the face of a very vocal pushback against his quest, first in competing neck-and-neck with the beloved Mickey Mantle for the record and then in favor of Ruth.
—Michael Salfino, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
Franco came into the mix as the ensemble neared the end of a long shoot, along with two weeks on location in Las Vegas.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 21 May 2025
Alonso hasn’t homered in 52 at-bats, nearing the longest streak of his career without going yard.
—Tim Britton, New York Times, 21 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for near
Recent Examples of Synonyms for near
Preposition
-
Best of The Bee: California changes rules around trans athletes after Trump’s threat to halt funding, via Lia Russell.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2025
-
Next year’s moonshot with four astronauts will fly around the moon but will not land.—
Marcia Dunn,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
Adjective
-
Somehow, the Rose Garden maintained a relative tranquility, and from it, Trump spoke to the American people.—
Chelsea Bailey,
CNN Money,
24 May 2025
-
Liverpool was a relative longshot to win the league crown entering the season.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
Its storied past offers a rare glimpse into evolutionary processes that allow living organisms to thrive for thousands of years.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
-
But Netanyahu said Tuesday that any new ceasefire deal reached -- for example to facilitate the release of more living hostages -- would be temporary.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
The likelihood of lightning increases as a thunderstorm gets closer and reaches its highest point when the storm is directly overhead.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 June 2025
-
And Tanner Scott, a $72 million reigning All-Star closer, has blown several save opportunities.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
The latter star has landed a number of hits throughout the past few years by repurposing melodies and interpolating hooks from older, familiar smashes by other artists, reworking them into something exciting and new for a different audience.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
-
Absence of treatment is not absence of illness, of course, but given how much time Gauguin spent in hospitals, that such a familiar disease would have been missed seems unlikely.—
Susan Tallman,
The Atlantic,
30 May 2025
Adverb
-
Back in the visiting clubhouse, Roberts watched the clock tick and tick and tick, eventually to the point where keeping Kershaw in was no longer a viable option.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
-
That dollar figure could be added back in later in the budget process, but for now it is not guaranteed.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
23 May 2025
Adverb
-
Essiedu is black, and while Stanton looks almost exactly like a young Emma Watson, but with a different skin tone, and that’s enough to cause unfortunate controversy.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
-
In Miami-Dade, almost a quarter of all households rely on SNAP to pay their grocery bills, the fifth-highest rate of any county in Florida, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2025
Adverb
-
Female Founders Collective has approximately 25,000 total members, including its exclusive dues-paying members.—
Emma Sandler,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2025
-
In 2024, advertisers spent approximately $16 billion on ads in TV shows, but sports were hot on entertainment’s heels with some $13.2 billion in spend, of which around $5 billion was earmarked for NFL games.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
29 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Near.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near. Accessed 7 Jun. 2025.
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