1
as in buddy
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another
really close friends who like to do everything together and are always sharing secrets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proponent
a person who actively supports or favors a cause
hopes that the new governor will be a friend to environmental causes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to befriend
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of friend
Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
The project was kicked into motion by unvarnished conversations with friends, including Florence, who fearlessly shared her breast cancer story with me and online.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
For a leveled-up beef bite, head on over to BEAR Steak Sandwiches, where longtime friends Ricardo Barrientos and Aki Erenberg have found the mathematically conclusive perfect ratio of steak to soft, tasty Portuguese buns in their beef sandwiches (no actual bears on the menu here).
—Gizelle Lau, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for friend
Noun
With a touch of class and a wealth of style, Jim has been a friend to countless people over the years, making the sprawling Los Angeles community feel like family at ballparks, stadiums and arenas all over.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 17 Feb. 2026
The project was kicked into motion by unvarnished conversations with friends, including Florence, who fearlessly shared her breast cancer story with me and online.
—Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
Might friend Taylor Swift be on hand to introduce one of her musical performances?
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
For a leveled-up beef bite, head on over to BEAR Steak Sandwiches, where longtime friends Ricardo Barrientos and Aki Erenberg have found the mathematically conclusive perfect ratio of steak to soft, tasty Portuguese buns in their beef sandwiches (no actual bears on the menu here).
—Gizelle Lau, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for friend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friend
Noun
-
Per the numbers crunched by our buddy Rahul Deshpande, the Bulldogs brought in 21 transfers.—
Tyler Estep,
AJC.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The king certainly won't attack his buddies.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Despite his history with direct-to-streaming releases, Timothée Chalamet is a proponent of the moviegoing experience.—
Christi Carras,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Both Nakamura and Carlsen are proponents of faster formats and are signed to esports teams.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In season 2, Calam Lynch played Theo Sharpe, a printer's assistant who befriends Eloise Bridgerton (Claudia Jessie) while trying to uncover Lady Whistledown's true identity.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The following day there was a break in the case when Ricky Chavis, a local handyman who had befriended Terry and often took care of his sons while Terry was at work, brought Derek and Alex to the sheriff’s station.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Schanelec shoots exclusively in the natural habitats of Thomas (a construction worker) and Carla (a nursery school teacher), introducing a handful of their friends and colleagues along the way.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Welch was a lawyer at a prominent Boston law firm, and his legal team included colleague Fred Fisher, who had been a member of the left-leaning National Lawyers’ Guild while attending Harvard Law School.—
Kristen Monroe,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
To his excited supporters, Platner might just be the Democrats’ perfect populist insurgent for Maine.—
Mark Leibovich,
The Atlantic,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Unless public land supporters in office act to clarify corner crossing in law, access will continue to shrink.—
Karlee Provenza,
Denver Post,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The family’s confidants, real and imagined, insist on both their normalcy and their otherworldly grace.—
Doreen St. Félix,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Siebel Newsom, a documentary filmmaker, is widely regarded as a key confidant and sounding board for her husband, who is seen as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Environmental advocates have long fought for regulators to require oil and gas companies to plug these wells to protect nearby communities and the environment.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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The administration's characterization has drawn intense concern from Second Amendment advocates, including the National Rifle Association.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Studying auroras is important, because they are associated with geomagnetic storms, which can cause all kinds of technical issues for satellites in space, as well as endanger astronauts.—
Julian Dossett,
Space.com,
15 Feb. 2026
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On average, increasing land-use mix by 20% was associated with a 7% relative increase in short-distance trips.—
Bree Shirvell,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Friend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friend. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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