1
as in valuable
commanding a large price
caviar has always been among the dearest of foods
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in beloved
granted special treatment or attention
spared no expense when caring for and feeding her dear little dog
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adorable
having qualities that tend to make one loved
a dear friend that I would do anything for
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in darling
a person with whom one is in love
I love you, dear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of dear
ABC News, 19 Oct. 2025
The result was a hauntingly unsettled piece of art that many people hold very dear.
—Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024
Somehow the ethereal little dears were inapprehensible without words.
—Tom Wolfe, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dear
Adjective
When my dear friend from Louisiana, Julia Letlow, was elected to fill the seat of her deceased husband because of COVID, Nancy Pelosi took days to swear her in.
—ABC News, 19 Oct. 2025
The result was a hauntingly unsettled piece of art that many people hold very dear.
—Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
At a recent event raising money for the Men Wear Pink campaign and for the Cincinnati Friars Club, another charity dear to Altenau's heart, the ambassadors climbed on stage and sang her a song.
—Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024
Somehow the ethereal little dears were inapprehensible without words.
—Tom Wolfe, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dear
Adjective
-
Even Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI—the world’s most valuable private company—recently echoed that sentiment after becoming a father.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
-
These were mysterious and valuable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The outfit was a hand-me-down from her beloved dog, Sophie, who is no longer with us.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The front passenger door depicts Royce’s beloved summer home in West Wittering, on England’s south coast.—
Howard Walker,
Robb Report,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
In March, the Candy actress shared a gallery of adorable photos with her niece in honor of World Down Syndrome Day.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The String Hook Crochet Headphone Covers are designed to look like strawberries and are oh-so-adorable.—
Jessie Quinn,
StyleCaster,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
While the night celebrated Mamdani’s coalition of Democratic Socialist of America leaders, labor union heads, and activists, the rally also reflected how far Mamdani had come from an unknown, leftist state assemblyman, polling under one percent, to a darling of the Democratic mainstream.—
Alex J. Rouhandeh,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
-
That’s the Snow White in you talking, darling.—
Helen Mirren,
Glamour,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Zettel then decided renting a hotel room for the night would be too expensive and let her daughter sleep in her car instead.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
In the aftermath of the expensive blunder, Schwarzman was quickly pulled aside by an investor.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to their family and loved ones during this difficult time.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Edwards’s most recent album, Fruit, delves into pain, loss, and reclaiming joy after losing a loved one.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Fox's nails may have been dipped in blood (red nail polish), but the rest of her look was soft and sweet—a fun contrast against the bloody gown.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Aside from buying beans, my go-to is a cortado with almond milk and — hear me out — quarter-sweet simple syrup.—
Tamia Boyd,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Recently that ranged from a man in his 70s who lost his childhood sweetheart to cancer to a woman who was burying her beloved horse.—
Chris Kenning,
USA Today,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Flacco and his wife were high school sweethearts who met in their New Jersey hometown.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dear. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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