Synonyms of cherished

cherished 1 of 2

adjective

as in loved

granted special treatment or attention

a cherished heirloom that has been in the family for generations

Synonyms & Similar Words

• loved
• beloved
• precious
• favorite
• special
• darling
• adored
• sweet
• favored
• dear
• pet
• fond
• admired
• appreciated
• revered
• treasured
• fair-haired
• white-headed
• esteemed
• prized
• preferred
• relished

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• despised
• disliked
• hated
• detested
• ignored
• loathed
• abhorred
• forgotten
• disfavored
• abandoned
• unbeloved
• disdained
• alienated
• execrated
• abominated
• estranged
• unfavorite

cherished

2 of 2

verb

past tense of cherish

1

as in adored

to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for

promised to love and cherish her husband forever

Synonyms & Similar Words

• loved
• adored
• fell for
• worshipped
• revered
• idolized
• idealized
• carried the torch (for)
• lost one's heart (to)
• venerated
• carried a torch (for)
• reverenced
• adulated
• canonized
• deified
• delighted (in)
• doted (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hated
• despised
• detested
• loathed
• abhorred
• antagonized
• disliked
• displeased
• execrated
• abominated
• disapproved (of)
• disgusted
• turned off
• revolted
• repulsed
• sickened
• repelled
• nauseated
• disfavored

2

as in valued

to hold dear

we shall always cherish the keepsakes that our grandmother left us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• valued
• treasured
• loved
• appreciated
• enjoyed
• prized
• respected
• admired
• regarded
• revered
• liked
• relished
• venerated
• reverenced
• delighted (in)
• fancied
• enshrined
• set store by
• esteemed
• grooved (on)
• memorialized
• reveled (in)
• idolized
• dug
• caressed
• adored
• worshipped
• apprized
• doted (on)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hated
• despised
• undervalued
• loathed
• detested
• abhorred
• execrated
• scorned
• abominated
• disdained
• disvalued
• abandoned
• disparaged
• sniffed (at)
• neglected
• slighted
• snubbed
• minimized
• scouted
• belittled
• depreciated
• decried
• deprecated
• put down
• forgot
• wrote off
• high-hatted
• cried down
• bad-mouthed
• kissed off

3

as in had

to keep in one's mind or heart

after all these years, she still cherishes the memory of her first summer romance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• had
• held
• retained
• harbored
• entertained
• cultivated
• bore
• remembered
• maintained
• treasured
• kept
• nursed
• preserved
• nurtured
• held on to
• hugged
• fostered
• sustained
• hung on to
• carried
• supported
• stuck (to)
• clung (to)
• cleaved (to)
• fixated (on or upon)
• obsessed (about or over)
• brooded (about or over)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• neglected
• ignored
• disregarded
• denied
• overlooked
• dropped
• rejected
• forgot
• refused
• abandoned
• repudiated
• scorned
• declined
• discarded
• renounced
• deserted
• disdained
• quit
• gave up
• abjured
• erased
• parted (with)
• forsook
• threw out
• expunged

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of cherished

Adjective

The residences were born out of necessity but have become cherished events for the thousands in the band’s cult. —Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026

Elderly residents face physical obstacles like climbing stairs in buildings without working elevators, while discovering cherished items destroyed or missing. —Kanis Leung, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026

Zachary was a cherished friend whose kindness and spirit touched everyone who knew him. —Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

Some cherished illusions will be shattered, including what chimpanzees eat, which is not exclusively fruit but sometimes other, weaker primates like red colobus monkeys. —David Faris, TheWeek, 13 Apr. 2026

In lieu of going with a typical flower vase, consider a cherished serving piece. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 12 Apr. 2026

Even the cherished daughters of the most powerful men in Gilead aren’t safe from state violence. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026

Donating formalwear helps others create cherished memories while freeing up space in your closet for new beginnings. —Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 2026

This evocative tale explores the uncertainty of leaving home, even if departing means rejoining a cherished relationship. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 Apr. 2026

Verb

Their teachers see them not as representatives of intersectional identities but as unique individuals, each with his or her own heritages, curiosities, and passions—each child to be cherished and known. —Steven F. Wilson, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026

His legacy will be cherished forever. —Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Heirloom seeds are cherished in the gardening community for their historical significance and role in promoting biodiversity. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 22 Apr. 2026

Your countries are stellar, respected and cherished by most Americans. —Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026

Have cherished the memory ever since. —Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026

In today's world, the ideal of peace is universally cherished, across cultures and in many languages. —Sarah Scott, Parents, 13 Apr. 2026

And nothing’s better than a favorite family recipe like this one cherished through the generations. —Josh Miller, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026

The irony of the Spurs being in town was that San Antonio’s 22-year-old phenom, Victor Wembanyama, knows as well as anyone that every opportunity to compete needs to be cherished. —Sam Amick, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026