as in fans
someone who wants another person to be happy, successful, etc.
Dozens of well-wishers gathered to say goodbye to him.
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Recent Examples of well-wishers
Actors David Dastmalchian and Alyssa Milano were also among the Instagram well-wishers.
—
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2026
King Charles stopped to acknowledge several well-wishers on the way to the Sandringham Estate, which recently drew crowds when the wider royal family attended church together on Christmas Day.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
While mingling with well-wishers, Charlotte, 10, gently patted her 12-year-old older brother’s back in a show of support and reassurance.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
By the next day, text and voicemail messages started pouring in to Goudreau — some from Venezuelan well-wishers, some from people who wanted to join up and still others from journalists.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
The warship was greeted by families and friends of her 55-strong ship’s company, plus well-wishers, who gathered to celebrate the culmination of months of dedication and teamwork.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
What Happens Next A memorial to KitKat has been established on the sidewalk near where the crash took place, and well-wishers have left flowers and candy underneath a photo of the cat.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Grainge, mocktail in hand, greeted friends and well-wishers throughout the evening, frequently pausing to share a smile with her husband, Elliot Grainge, before catching up with Vogue.
—Jamila Stewart, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2025
Prisoners and detainees who returned to Gaza rode on the tops of buses through crowds of well-wishers.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 5 Jan. 2026
King Charles stopped to acknowledge several well-wishers on the way to the Sandringham Estate, which recently drew crowds when the wider royal family attended church together on Christmas Day.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 5 Jan. 2026
While mingling with well-wishers, Charlotte, 10, gently patted her 12-year-old older brother’s back in a show of support and reassurance.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 31 Dec. 2025
By the next day, text and voicemail messages started pouring in to Goudreau — some from Venezuelan well-wishers, some from people who wanted to join up and still others from journalists.
—Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
The warship was greeted by families and friends of her 55-strong ship’s company, plus well-wishers, who gathered to celebrate the culmination of months of dedication and teamwork.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
What Happens Next A memorial to KitKat has been established on the sidewalk near where the crash took place, and well-wishers have left flowers and candy underneath a photo of the cat.
—Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Grainge, mocktail in hand, greeted friends and well-wishers throughout the evening, frequently pausing to share a smile with her husband, Elliot Grainge, before catching up with Vogue.
—Jamila Stewart, Vogue, 17 Oct. 2025
Prisoners and detainees who returned to Gaza rode on the tops of buses through crowds of well-wishers.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for well-wishers
Noun
-
Conrad wasn’t sure how football fans would react but said most people eagerly accepted a towel.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
By the end of that format’s 12-year run, including several instances in which the best overall driver of the year was shut out from the title or even competing in the championship race, a majority of fans and drivers were more than ready for something else.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Sports fandom is 'part of your identity' Especially for diehard devotees, the emotional attachment fans have to their teams can be interwoven with hometown pride, family history, geographic loyalty, personal identity and self-esteem.—
Marc Ramirez,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Belters, devotees and innovators.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny (and Vogue’s fashionable December digital cover star) took the stage at the 2026 Super Bowl—and brought his celebrity friends along for the celebration.—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Bring your friends, too, because it’s meant to serve four.—
Jayna Bardahl,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If dialogue or compromise were to take place, his sacred image would collapse in the eyes of his supporters.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
6 Feb. 2026
-
On the other hand, the court upheld limits on what supporters can contribute directly.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Well-wishers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well-wishers. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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