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
Examples 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 dear
Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
McKinnon — grieving the loss of her mother and, more recently, a dear friend — wondered how her great-grandmother coped.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2024
Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2024
His last letter is from September 1942: My dears, thank you very much for your two letters, September 16th and 24th.
—John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for dear 
Adjective
Well my dearest Strandistarians, today is my last Strands guide for the next couple of weeks.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024
McKinnon — grieving the loss of her mother and, more recently, a dear friend — wondered how her great-grandmother coped.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2024
Noun
The ad did little good for his daughter in a deep-red state that once held the Cheney family dear but is now thoroughly in Trump’s corner.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 6 Sep. 2024
His last letter is from September 1942: My dears, thank you very much for your two letters, September 16th and 24th.
—John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for dear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dear
Adjective
-
The Equinox has some strong competitors in its general price range, but many of the best are currently assembled outside of North America and do not qualify for the valuable incentive.Peter Douglas, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
-
Exploiting loopholes While the continent is believed to hold vast deposits of oil, gas, copper and other valuable minerals, mining is effectively banned by treaty amendment until 2048.The Week UK, theweek, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
This new production of one of opera’s most beloved works is created by an all-AAPI female creative team and directed by Mo Zhou.Kathryn Gregory, The Courier-Journal, 6 Nov. 2024
-
While the ballot-counting continues and Kornacki graces our screens, here are some facts to know about the beloved political analyst.Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Pesto became an A-list animal celebrity earlier this year, thanks to his big lifestyle, eating up to 25 fish a day, as well as his adorable appearance.Dan Aulbach, NBC News, 9 Nov. 2024
-
Patrick Mahomes' daughter Sterling Skye has an adorable message for anyone trying to take the ball from her dad during Kansas City Chiefs games.Becca Longmire, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
Nebraska The Cornhuskers will bring a corn maze of mystery from Lincoln, an early-season Big Ten darling that has cratered in recent weeks.Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 11 Nov. 2024
-
Chief among these is Orbán, 61, who has become an unlikely darling to Trump and other Republicans, who have hosted him and courted his political advice.Alexander Smith, NBC News, 8 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The outlet said that the move came after a close review of Amazon’s programming costs across its entertainment portfolio, prompted by several expensive series that failed to connect with audiences.Bruce Gil, Quartz, 15 Nov. 2024
-
And inefficiency gets very expensive when homes sit on the market.Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Of course, anyone with a low tolerance for sugary sweet, sometimes sticky sentimentality would want to suck on a pack of lemons afterwards.Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
-
The electric thrill of Sichuan pepper works well in sweet dishes, too.Megan Zhang, Saveur, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
-
The book explores a walled city the narrator and his teenage sweetheart imagined.Theara Coleman, theweek, 6 Nov. 2024
-
Directed and co-written by Jordan Weiss, the movie is about two best friends and college freshmen (Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga) who make a pact to break up with their high school sweethearts over Thanksgiving break, while growing closer to each other at the same time.Monica Mercuri, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
Good post for a mid- to late-November afternoon: 70 to 100 yards back in timber and along the thickest, nastiest ditch that leads out to crops. 59) Don’t waste precious rut-hunting time.Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
-
Viewers joined Jenn with tears over Romeo's precious reaction to his dad coming home.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Articles Related to dear
Thesaurus Entries Near dear
Cite this Entry
“Dear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dear. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share