dear 1 of 2

adjective

ˈdir How to pronounce dear (audio)
Definition of dearnext
1
as in valuable
commanding a large price caviar has always been among the dearest of foods

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

dear

2 of 2

noun

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
Adjective
Two of the most important are my dear friends and collaborators, Beatrice Tait-Loft and Nathan Német of Studio N&TL. — Samantha Rees, Vogue, 21 Sep. 2026 So many have left him since — his dear friend Joe Marconi, his radio partner Mike Pyle and his fierce rival in golf, cards and racquetball, Dan Reeves. — Dan Pompei, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Noun
Early on, Leonardo Spinazzola made a mistake similar to the one Billy Gilmour committed last week, one that cost Napoli dear against Torino. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2025 Decked out for the holidays While the angel ornaments sit in a glass case, Donna holds two ornaments on the dining room Christmas tree dear. — Lennie Omalza, The Courier-Journal, 14 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for dear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dear
  1. valuable
  2. beloved
  3. adorable
  4. darling
  5. expensive
  6. loved
  7. sweet
  8. sweetheart
Adjective
  • There’s no player more valuable on the back end of USC’s defense.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Chinese scientists have developed a 250-kilowatt system that can produce hydrogen and fresh water from seawater while recovering valuable marine resources.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of valuable
Adjective
  • That’s because the hotel was founded by Shin Young-kyun, a beloved South Korean film actor and politician who was born in 1928—hence, the hotel’s name.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Oct. 2026
  • In an era where millions of recipes are made for content consumption as much as actual consumption, traveling back in time for someone’s beloved 1970 banana bread recipe sounds pretty nice.
    — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of beloved
Adjective
  • This adorable serving bowl is a fun way to serve Halloween appetizers at your next party.
    — Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 2 Oct. 2026
  • But sea otters have not ceased to be adorable — or a keystone species.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of adorable
Noun
  • Our favorite dress picks have a variety of styles and versatile features, like darling ruffles, cinching waistlines, and trending silhouettes.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2026
  • There’s his drop-dead gorgeous spouse, a huge welcoming home, darling children, and a pillar-of-the-community job that gives him a clean conscience.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of darling
Adjective
  • Narrowing the spread also weakens the incentive to steer patients toward costlier drugs and to acquire physician practices and infusion clinics — the very behaviors that have made care more expensive.
    — Casey B. Mulligan, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The problem is that these systems are slow, expensive and don’t scale.
    — Reynald Fasciaux, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • Granbery was reunited safely with her loved ones, who helped with search and rescue operations and provided critical information to help locate her, the sheriff's office said.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The company has also expanded into care and repair and a pre-loved business, extending the life of products while creating additional ways to engage consumers.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of loved
Adjective
  • Formal afternoon tea is served, too, with the savory and sweet accompaniments prepared through an Indonesian lens.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Wagyu beef and lamb koobideh are formed into bite-size, plump spheres doused in a sweet tomato and sumac glaze.
    — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of sweet
Noun
  • On the other side of the river lies my sandbank, where my dark-skinned sweetheart with the heron-beak nose sits.
    — Sanat Pai Raikar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026
  • For every couple who were childhood best friends or high school sweethearts, there’s another who didn’t cross paths until much later in life.
    — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of sweetheart

Browse Nearby Words

deanships
dear
dears
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Cite this Entry

“Dear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dear. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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