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
David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Not that long after, a guard near the New York Stock Exchange stopped me.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 31 May 2026
Hebron Sher, Fortune, 29 May 2026
All the while, global crude stockpiles are plummeting at a record pace, and economists warn that even an immediate peace deal will not lead to near-term respite.
—semafor.com, 29 May 2026
Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
As a child, Mastel suffered from near-constant allergies and illnesses and in 1966, a serious intestinal illness hospitalized him for 54 days, spurring his interest in natural supplements and plants to try to quiet his symptoms.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 3 June 2026
Chandler Rome, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Then, in the seventh ballot, Qualls neared the 60% support needed for the party’s endorsement.
—Jimmy Lovrien, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for near
Preposition
Resolution received access to 2,422 acres near the historic Magma mine, while conveying more than 5,400 acres of environmentally and culturally sensitive land into permanent conservation.
—David Blackmon, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Not that long after, a guard near the New York Stock Exchange stopped me.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 31 May 2026
Adjective
We were forced to stay nearer to operations and reality.
—Hebron Sher, Fortune, 29 May 2026
All the while, global crude stockpiles are plummeting at a record pace, and economists warn that even an immediate peace deal will not lead to near-term respite.
—semafor.com, 29 May 2026
Adverb
With so many legends, styles, eras, and defining moments, including World Cup performances, to choose from, creating a definitive list is a near-impossible task, and, perhaps, that is what makes such an endeavor irresistible.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 June 2026
As a child, Mastel suffered from near-constant allergies and illnesses and in 1966, a serious intestinal illness hospitalized him for 54 days, spurring his interest in natural supplements and plants to try to quiet his symptoms.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 3 June 2026
Verb
Speaking about a pitching surplus is dangerous, but Houston is nearing one in its rotation — even more reason to move Ullola into a relief role.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 1 June 2026
Then, in the seventh ballot, Qualls neared the 60% support needed for the party’s endorsement.
—Jimmy Lovrien, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for near
Recent Examples of Synonyms for near
Preposition
-
The airspace around St Petersburg international airport was restricted on Wednesday morning, leading to delays of around two dozen flights, the airport said in a statement.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
Meals are served around the pool or at small tables in the open-air dining room (no need to share tables with fellow safari-goers).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Monday there was a further rally in software stocks – the other end of the relative-performance axis – along with mixed action in semis, with winners Nvidia and Micron offset by weakness in the likes of Intel and Qualcomm.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
2 June 2026
-
Freese joined the roster only 17 months ago as a relative unknown.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Common spaces include a guest kitchen, lounge, and outdoor terrace, evoking a co-living space more than a standard hotel.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
In theory, that would mean rewriting 18 million points of code to convert a living roan cell to a reborn bluebuck cell.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But these suites are also closest to the elevators, and the historic walls don’t adequately muffle the sounds of other guests.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Gertrud would keep the girls close, one on either side.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
In mid-January, as Iran crushed wide-scale protests with the mass killing of demonstrators, Israel prepared a covert mission along the Azerbaijan-Iran border, two of the sources familiar with the plans told CNN.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
Broadcom is backstopping payments on the largest portions of the transaction, people familiar with the matter have said.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
Adverb
-
Set the scene This elegant sandstone tower fits right in with the neighboring skyscrapers on bustling Potsdamer Platz.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
And once bro culture seeps in, the signs are hard to ignore.—
Teresa Hopke,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adverb
-
The group closely manages its propaganda and marketing with several guides that members must strictly adhere to.—
Will Carless,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
-
But there have been a surge of cases in South America that public health experts and the USDA have been watching closely.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Adverb
-
Canfield, as proven by her work in Stereophonic, is extremely able at playing a character with a pristine, almost porcelain surface and roiling depths.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
-
More than 160 million people around the world played some form of golf in 2025, marking an almost 50% rise from 2023.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Near.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/near. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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