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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of near
Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
Yet, near-Earth asteroids are also widely regarded as one of the most significant existential threats facing humankind.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
An accurate screening test should have a near-zero rate of false positives and a high level of specificity.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 8 Sep. 2025
Maren Longbella, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
But the worst of California’s fire season is likely ahead as the windy season nears.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for near
Preposition
Resembling a minnow near the surface of the water, these rental boats come with easy instructions for beginners who are unfamiliar with how to operate the canal’s lock system along the way.
—Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 7 Sep. 2025
Yet, near-Earth asteroids are also widely regarded as one of the most significant existential threats facing humankind.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
However, economists caution, the better-than-expected reading could be a sign of a slowing economy and that shrinking businesses’ margins could foretell higher prices for consumers in the near future.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2025
After a near-fatal experience, Kaif began seeing both stories and silences differently.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
Adverb
Wind giant Ørsted sues White House Energy giant Ørsted and two US states sued the White House over its obstruction of a near-complete offshore wind farm, part of the administration’s move away from renewables.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2025
An accurate screening test should have a near-zero rate of false positives and a high level of specificity.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Lowell jumped on the bandwagon and hurriedly so, bankrolling and putting himself in charge of an expedition to Arizona territory to set up a telescope ahead of Mars nearing the Earth in 1894.
—Maren Longbella, Boston Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
But the worst of California’s fire season is likely ahead as the windy season nears.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for near
Recent Examples of Synonyms for near
Preposition
-
Overmont Oversized Double Camping Chair This Overmont Double Chair is built for snuggling up around the campfire, but it can be used to spread out while solo.—
Francesca Krempa,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The ensemble featured a visible black underwire and corset boning at the bust and torso, while the sheer black fabric created an illusion of draping around her bust and the rest of her body.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Ross, one of the Democrats to decline AIPAC money, is a relative centrist, according to a GovTrack scorecard, while Foushee and McGarvey, Kentucky’s only House Democrat, are in the middle of the pack ideologically.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Cells can be referred to by expressions in other cells using a special function use() with relative coordinates.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Together with previous finds, the new fossils demonstrate that at least four lineages of hominins (creatures more closely related to us than to our closest living relatives, the chimpanzees and bonobos) lived in eastern Africa between three million and 2.5 million years ago.—
Kate Wong,
Scientific American,
13 Aug. 2025
-
So, is this a case where a living organism transformed into a non-living state by evolutionary pressures?—
Dirk Schulze-Makuch,
Big Think,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Looking back at Charlotte’s recent FCS opponents, dating back to 2021, the 49ers haven’t won the turnover battle in any of the four matchups, resulting in uncomfortably close games and even a lopsided loss to William & Mary in 2022.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
As Vevo’s Senior Manager of Talent Booking, Cynthia Todd emphasized the close partnership and trust that goes into making opportunities like these special performances come together in Live From Vevo Studios.—
Jeff Benjamin,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
On the other side of the equation, the Chiefs’ receiving corps has looked eerily familiar.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The inertia of familiar patterns keeps people locked into old routines.—
Thomas Lim,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Players need to keep a careful eye on the sometimes small animation cues that presage an attack, move quickly and precisely to avoid that specific attack, and then dart back in during a quick counterattack window to do some damage before starting the cycle over again.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Customers who walk in and peer behind the counter will see Eid and his team cooking dishes right in front of them.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Do not follow large vehicles closely - Large vehicles like trucks or buses can create a spray of water that can reduce your visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The administration has also removed multiple senior leaders in charge of agencies that work closely with the intelligence community but fall under the Department of War.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Sep. 2025
Adverb
-
Merging with Teck will almost certainly be the master stroke in removing it from any plans by BHP to return with a fresh offer for Anglo American.—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Apple has since confirmed that the functionality will come to almost all modern smartwatch models.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Near.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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