precious

adjective

ˈpre-shəs How to pronounce precious (audio)
Definition of preciousnext
1
as in valuable
commanding a large price diamonds and other precious stones

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cherished
granted special treatment or attention parents who refuse to hear the slightest criticism of their precious children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in dear
having qualities that tend to make one loved a precious friend for whom I would do anything

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 precious The Cowboys' disaster began with the fact their kickoff went into the end zone for a touchback rather than remaining on the field, where precious seconds would have ticked off the clock. — Armando Salguero Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026 The result feels less precious and more wearable, allowing customers to bring a sense of glamour into their everyday wardrobe. — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026 Seeing these two girl dads tear up about walking their babies down the aisle, the passage of time, and the inviolate personhood of their daughters was tender and precious. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2026 Café Sushi Shoten Great sushi doesn’t have to be precious, which is exactly what Cafe Sushi Shoten is selling. — Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for precious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precious
  1. valuable
  2. cherished
  3. dear
  4. expensive
  5. loved
  6. adorable
  7. costly
  8. beloved
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
  • For much of her early life, that single question was the most precious gift Laura had ever been given—more cherished than her Barbies or her Baby Alive or her Sunshine family dolls.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Macy served the Placer County DA’s office from 2006 to 2020 and remained a cherished part of its extended family.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of cherished
Adjective
  • Here, a very dear, longtime local friend officiated the service with just a few attendees which included a blacktip reef shark and a colony of marine iguanas.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Undeterred, here are the lessons Mackey is holding dear in round two of his entrepreneurial journey.
    — Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of dear
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
  • 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
Adjective
  • Their expertise helps prevent costly complications and improves the efficiency of our health-care system.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The fourth concluded with Willis’ second costly lost fumble in two weeks, after Dallas Turner beat Austin Jackson.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of costly
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

Browse Nearby Words

precincts
precious
precipice
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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