1
as in buddy
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another
really close friends who like to do everything together and are always sharing secrets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proponent
a person who actively supports or favors a cause
hopes that the new governor will be a friend to environmental causes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to befriend
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of friend
Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026
And just hang out with your friends and don’t be afraid of people, because the idea of being perceived all the time is really scary.
—Charlie Harding, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Might friend Taylor Swift be on hand to introduce one of her musical performances?
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for friend
Noun
Limon and Bristy, 27, were both from Bangladesh and had come to Tampa in 2024 and 2025, respectively, to attend the school and further their studies, their friends said.
—Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026
And just hang out with your friends and don’t be afraid of people, because the idea of being perceived all the time is really scary.
—Charlie Harding, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
What’s the difference, for you, between doing that with Black women friends your own age, versus someone who’s old enough to be a mother?
—Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Might friend Taylor Swift be on hand to introduce one of her musical performances?
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for friend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friend
Noun
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Oscar nominee and Primetime Emmy winner Liz Garbus and Elizabeth Wolff directed the documentary, which features interviews with King, her wife Ilana Kloss, and fellow tennis luminaries Chris Evert and Rosie Casals, and King’s buddy Elton John, among others.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
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On the way to save her beloved canine buddy Krypto, the party-hearty but tortured Supergirl teams up with a vengeful youngster (Ruthye Marye Knoll) and a rambunctious intergalactic bounty hunter (Jason Momoa).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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At the same time, many national security proponents and experts in the intelligence community argue that such restrictions would impede law enforcement efforts and pose severe national security risks.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
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Last Tuesday, the California Secretary of State reported that proponents, led by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, had turned in more than enough valid signatures to county registrars, ensuring that voters will be given an opportunity to restore the original intent of Proposition 13.—
Jon Coupal,
Oc Register,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Odessa A’zion voices Nikki Baxter, a new kid who befriends our core group of Hawkins kids.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Still, the King of Pop's life wasn't without controversy, which ranged from wacky (befriending and adopting a chimp) to much darker (child abuse allegations).—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Friends Remember Ernie Dosio as a Charitable Man Friends and colleagues have emphasized Dosio’s generosity and character, describing him as someone who gave back quietly and consistently.—
Ryan Brennan
April 28,
Kansas City Star,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Clooney’s other famous friends and colleagues, including Matt Damon and Richard Kind, sent video messages to celebrate the actor’s career longevity.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The complaints were both filed about a month apart by Jeremy Fetzer, a political consultant who also runs the political action committee Osceola Action Committee and is a supporter of Mayor Jackie Espinosa, who is herself facing ethics charges.—
Natalia Jaramillo,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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The zoo, which celebrates its 200th anniversary this week, has announced plans to build a new medical center that will feature a viewing gallery for visitors, thanks to a donation of £20 million ($27 million) from a long-term supporter who is not being identified.—
Lianne Kolirin,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Gray served in a variety of consequential positions over the years and wielded influence deftly to the benefit of the community, said Dick Batchelor, who represented Central Florida in the Legislature from 1974 to 1982 and regarded Gray as a sage confidant.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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Training my virtual robot to become my confidant was fairly simple.—
David McGrath,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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These developments add to growing concerns among rights advocates over restrictions on independent media, civil society and any dissenting voices under Saied.—
Ghaya ben Mbarek,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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Rebuilding Penn Station has been a white whale for transit advocates and civic leaders since the 1990s.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In court filings associated with the case, attorneys representing UConn argued that the university had no duty to protect students at unsanctioned events.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
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That indirect pathway is fundamentally constrained by thermodynamic limits, particularly the Carnot efficiency ceiling associated with heat engines, which restricts how much of the fuel’s energy can be converted into usable electricity.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Friend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friend. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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