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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dear
Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 June 2025
Erik Kain Welcome back to another Strands puzzle, dearest Strandistas!
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 June 2025
Sharon Coolidge, The Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2024
Advertisement 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.
—Mead Gruver, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dear
Adjective
What's dear to me is my health and my family and my friends and my work and my neighbors and my community and all the different beautiful people of this country.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 14 June 2025
Erik Kain Welcome back to another Strands puzzle, dearest Strandistas!
—Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 12 June 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
Advertisement 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.
—Mead Gruver, Los Angeles Times, 6 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for dear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dear
Adjective
-
No final roster decisions are made during OTAs, but there was valuable insight about the pecking order throughout the Las Vegas Raiders’ roster.—
Tashan Reed,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
-
Already Creating Huge Hype Last season, Arch received some valuable playing time behind Quinn Ewers.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Rainbow pillows perch on a long pink booth and two faux crystal chandeliers dangle over a black and white checkered floor, the base of a spacious dining area that compelled chef and owner Jenni Vee to upgrade to this location from her beloved original storefront nearly a year ago.—
Sophie Levenson,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2025
-
Fishing is a beloved pastime throughout the Keys, and underwater adventure doesn’t get much better than in Key Largo.—
Chloe Arrojado,
AFAR Media,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
Destry Spielberg thanks members of her clan in the credits, including someone film lovers might not know: Chicken Spielberg, an adorable Irish setter/poodle mix.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
28 June 2025
-
Jack, whose back was turned to the camera, wore an adorable mini Toronto Maple Leafs jersey — a nod to his dad's favorite home team.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
People.com,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
Despite the mockumentary being a critical darling, the premium cable network axed the comedy series after one season.—
Armando Tinoco,
Deadline,
27 June 2025
-
Theranos, once a darling of Silicon Valley, promised to revolutionize blood testing.—
Oscar Chavez-Arrieta,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
Adjective
-
Because kids don’t always need an expensive class or activity in order to learn valuable life skills.—
Miranda Rake,
Parents,
25 June 2025
-
The prices vary by area, but the general price range is between $24 and $45, with the Mariner's Boil being more expensive.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
25 June 2025
Adjective
-
Bailey flashed a sweet jumper and impressive athleticism but struggled with his shot selection and had more turnovers than assists.—
Mike Vorkunov,
New York Times,
26 June 2025
-
Recipients now can use food stamps to buy candies, cakes, cookies, other sweet treats, sodas, sugary drinks, ice cream and myriad other sugar-laden desserts and drinks.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 June 2025
Noun
-
In one video of the reception, the bride and groom sit and share a kiss at a sweetheart table draped in white fabric and adorned with an abundance of florals.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
23 June 2025
-
Thankfully, his wife, Trish, Matheson’s high-school sweetheart, stood by him, and his few remaining restaurant friends staged an intervention not long after.—
Stephen Rodrick,
Rolling Stone,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
Fears over the economic impact of crushing trade tariffs, a worsening geopolitical landscape, and US dollar weakness have all fuelled the precious metal’s price ascension.—
Royston Wild,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
-
This rare, precious silence was part of what drew Jonathan Grenier and James May, the founders of Ungava Polar Eco-Tours, to set up the company’s outdoor adventure base camp here.—
Chloe Berge,
Outside Online,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dear. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share