1
as in buddies
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in supporters
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of friends
Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
But do those connections turn into friends?
—Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
Walter would rather have stayed at Central, with his friends and his teacher.
—Laurie Stern, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026
Immigrant New Yorkers are our neighbors, co-workers, and friends.
—Dr. Alister Martin, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
All of my friends and my people are in this world.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
Pack your phone, wallet, keys, and other essentials, like a glasses case and lip gloss, and prepare to head out for a date night or brunch with friends.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
The show follows two upper-crust friends, Julia (O’Hara) and Jane (Byrne), who discover their former lover Maurice (Mark Consuelos) has touched down in London while their husbands are on a golf trip.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Murphy famously parodied Wonder on SNL, but the two became friends when Wonder joined him for a sketch on the show.
—John Ross, Vanity Fair, 19 Apr. 2026
Noun
Reporters, editors and guests of the many publications in attendance filed in, searching for their tables, yapping with old – or possibly new – friends and lining up to get a photo in front of the main table.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2026
But do those connections turn into friends?
—Mary Frances Ruskell, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
Walter would rather have stayed at Central, with his friends and his teacher.
—Laurie Stern, NPR, 26 Apr. 2026
Immigrant New Yorkers are our neighbors, co-workers, and friends.
—Dr. Alister Martin, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
All of my friends and my people are in this world.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
Pack your phone, wallet, keys, and other essentials, like a glasses case and lip gloss, and prepare to head out for a date night or brunch with friends.
—Averi Baudler, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
The show follows two upper-crust friends, Julia (O’Hara) and Jane (Byrne), who discover their former lover Maurice (Mark Consuelos) has touched down in London while their husbands are on a golf trip.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Murphy famously parodied Wonder on SNL, but the two became friends when Wonder joined him for a sketch on the show.
—John Ross, Vanity Fair, 19 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for friends
Noun
-
To see Ben’s growth, to see Jon, his rapid ascent, and to see the team’s success, to see DA — there’s a tremendous sense of pride watching your buddies do such great things professionally.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
But after Shedeur Sanders last year had his number leaked to various sources — including the son of Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich who turned it into a prank phone call with his buddies — the league made changes this year.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Whitecaps rally Outside the FIFA Congress was a small rally of about 100 supporters of the Vancouver Whitecaps, protesting the possible relocation of the Major League Soccer team.—
Anne M. Peterson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Family members, coaches, friends and other supporters of the finalists and scholarship program are welcome to request a ticket to attend.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Greene’s heart-to-heart media tour has been jarring liberals and anyone else who associates her with conspiratorial beliefs and outrageous comments.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
21 Nov. 2025
-
Everyone associates that with us.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In a 2006 study, Redelmeier and his colleagues found that acronyms may improve a trial’s likelihood of being cited.—
Clarissa Brincat,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
-
So many of my female colleagues are moms or moms-to-be, and there is comfort in being around other working women who are also building families.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And though conservatives alone did not create this state of affairs, many were key proponents of a vision of politics centered on one commanding figure—a vision that is now destabilizing our country.—
Gregg Nunziata,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Earlier this month, the lawmakers and groups opposed to Restore Our Roads sent letters urging proponents to withdraw the initiative.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Odessa A’zion voices Nikki Baxter, a new kid who befriends our core group of Hawkins kids.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
24 Apr. 2026
-
His son goes to Hogwarts and befriends Draco Malfoy’s son in a new journey that includes magic, a massive battle and many special effects.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Both Pramaggiore, a onetime rising star in Chicago’s corporate world, and McClain, who was a top lobbyist for the utility and one of Madigan’s closest confidants, were sentenced to two years behind bars and had been scheduled for release in August 2027.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Hurley tempered his act this season, after his wife, Andrea, and confidants Billy Donovan, Geno Auriemma and Seth Greenberg jumped him last year.—
Ian O'Connor,
New York Times,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And advocates can challenge the EPA’s decision-making.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
But advocates for the workers say foreign worker status, and Israel’s increasing reliance on foreign workers, creates conditions that are ripe for abuse.—
Theia Chatelle,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Friends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/friends. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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