Definition of treasurenext
1
2
as in gem
someone or something unusually desirable in thanking them for their contributions, the mayor referred to the volunteers at the homeless shelter as the city's greatest treasures

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

treasure

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word treasure different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of treasure are appreciate, cherish, prize, and value. While all these words mean "to hold in high estimation," treasure emphasizes jealously safeguarding something considered precious.

a treasured memento

When is appreciate a more appropriate choice than treasure?

The words appreciate and treasure are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, appreciate often connotes sufficient understanding to enjoy or admire a thing's excellence.

appreciates fine wine

In what contexts can cherish take the place of treasure?

The words cherish and treasure can be used in similar contexts, but cherish implies a special love and care for something.

cherishes her children above all

When is it sensible to use prize instead of treasure?

The meanings of prize and treasure largely overlap; however, prize implies taking a deep pride in something one possesses.

Americans prize their freedom

When could value be used to replace treasure?

While in some cases nearly identical to treasure, value implies rating a thing highly for its intrinsic worth.

values our friendship

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 treasure
Noun
Instead of using labels, Alkhatib talks his guests through the treasures, which include a marble model of the Taj Mahal, a geode from Morocco and a silver elephant sculpture from Sri Lanka. — Dina Cheney, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2026 Just hours after the Louvre heist last October –– which saw thieves strike during broad daylight and make off with Napoleonic-era treasures –– another French museum was similarly targeted. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
The vision describes a county that continues to treasure its natural beauty and protect open space across the Greater Sacramento metropolitan area, while creating opportunities for people to live, work, recreate and raise families. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026 There was a fluidity to their performance that treasured passion over technical precision. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for treasure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for treasure
Noun
  • Meanwhile the star accessorized with matching pointy pumps and loaded up on glittering jewels courtesy of Cartier.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Diamond jewels by Cartier, including the house’s Agrafe earrings, completed Chan’s look.
    — Laurie Brookins, HollywoodReporter, 18 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • With a captivating bank fraud mystery, and two irresistible love stories, Kleypas’ uniquely wise and witty novel is a gem.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026
  • That is the heart of this gem of a company, which was performed for one night only Saturday at the Auditorium and marks the official kickoff to its season highlighting North American dance.
    — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • ElevenLabs established itself as one of the most highly valued of those startups this month with a $300 million employee tender, at a $22 billion price tag.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • At the top end of the price range, Jio Platforms is valued at around $108 billion, much lower than previously expected.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • But dating apps are not largely not transparent about how personal information is stored, analyzed, and shared and require you to legally consent to sharing data.
    — Sneha Dhandapani, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • This far exceeds the carbon stored in the world’s forest biomass, despite forests covering a much larger area.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • There was supposed to be more champagne, a trophy to raise, and the first World Series three-peat by a National League team to jot down in the history books.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Smart bets say yes, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of other songs worthy of the trophy this year.
    — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • An image of ink droplets inside a printer has won first prize at the Nikon Small World photomicrography competition, which focuses on images taken through a microscope.
    — Jack Guy, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Congratulations to Zane Li, who has now won enough young-designer prizes to have something like an EGOT, and to Aisling Camps and Emily Dawn Long, who are this year’s runners-up.
    — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The judges love this all-over-the-place contemporary, but Julia looks a little lost throughout.
    — Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2026
  • By this time, the interview has devolved into fun-loving chaos.
    — Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • The bar is lower than the basement room Luann got stashed in at Ramona’s Hamptons house.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This is the God of end-times preppers, the God who stashes clues to Armageddon in sacred texts like so many colored eggs at Easter.
    — David Von Drehle, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Treasure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/treasure. Accessed 23 Oct. 2026.

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