DEAR: Synonyms and Related Words. What is Another Word for DEAR?

Need another word that means the same as “dear”? Find 57 synonyms and 30 related words for “dear” in this overview.

The synonyms of “Dear” are: good, near, costly, high-priced, pricey, pricy, beloved, darling, devout, earnest, heartfelt, loved, much loved, adored, cherished, precious, treasured, valued, prized, special, favourite, favoured, endearing, adorable, lovable, appealing, engaging, charming, enchanting, captivating, winsome, winning, attractive, lovely, nice, pleasant, delightful, angelic, sweet, expensive, overpriced, exorbitant, extortionate, lamb, dearest, honey, love, loved one, sweetheart, treasure, endearing person, affectionately, dearly

Dear as a Noun

Definitions of "Dear" as a noun

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “dear” as a noun can have the following definitions:

  • A beloved person; used as terms of endearment.
  • A sweet or endearing person.
  • A sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child.
  • Used as an affectionate or friendly form of address.

Synonyms of "Dear" as a noun (12 Words)

belovedA beloved person used as terms of endearment.
He watched his beloved from afar.
darlingA special loved one.
He is the darling of Labour s left wing.
dearestA beloved person; used as terms of endearment.
You make me so happy dearest.
endearing personA grammatical category used in the classification of pronouns, possessive determiners, and verb forms according to whether they indicate the speaker, the addressee, or a third party.
honeyAny sweet substance similar to bees honey.
It s one honey of an adaptation.
lambThe flesh of a lamb as food.
Lamb chops.
loveA beloved person used as terms of endearment.
Don t fret there s a love.
loved oneSexual activities (often including sexual intercourse) between two people.
preciousUsed as a term of address for a beloved person.
Don t be frightened my precious.
sweetThe sweet part or element of something.
The sweets of office.
sweetheartAny well-liked individual.
He s a sweetheart.
treasureA much loved or highly valued person.
The children returned from the seashore with their shells and other treasures.

Usage Examples of "Dear" as a noun

  • Don't you worry, dear.
  • Harry's a dear.

Dear as an Adjective

Definitions of "Dear" as an adjective

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “dear” as an adjective can have the following definitions:

  • Having a high price.
  • Regarded with deep affection.
  • Earnest.
  • With or in a close or intimate relationship.
  • Sincerely earnest.
  • Used in speech as a polite or affectionate form of address.
  • Endearing; sweet.
  • Used in the polite form of address at the start of a letter.
  • Expensive.
  • Dearly loved.

Synonyms of "Dear" as an adjective (43 Words)

adorableInspiring great affection or delight.
I have four adorable Siamese cats.
adoredRegarded with deep or rapturous love (especially as if for a god.
Adored grandchildren.
angelicHaving a sweet nature befitting an angel or cherub.
An angelic smile.
appealingAttractive or interesting.
He added an appealing and memorable figure to popular American mythology.
attractivePleasing to the eye or mind especially through beauty or charm.
An attractive force.
belovedVery popular with (a specified set of people.
His beloved son.
captivatingCapable of attracting and holding interest; charming.
Roosevelt was a captivating speaker.
charming(of a person or their manner) very polite, friendly, and likeable.
Charming incantations.
cherishedCharacterized by feeling or showing fond affection for.
A cherished friend.
costlyCosting a lot; expensive.
Costly jewelry.
darling(in affected use) pretty; charming.
A darling little pillbox hat.
delightfulCausing delight; charming.
A delightful secluded garden.
devoutDeeply religious.
She was a devout Catholic.
earnestSincerely earnest.
Both sides were deeply in earnest even passionate.
enchantingDelightfully charming or attractive.
Dinah looked enchanting.
endearingLovable especially in a childlike or naive way.
An endearing little grin.
engagingCharming and attractive.
An engaging smile.
exorbitantGreatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation.
Exorbitant rent.
expensiveHigh in price or charging high prices.
Keeping a horse is expensive.
extortionateGreatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation.
Extortionate prices.
favouredPreferred or recommended.
The most favoured destination of visitors to Canada.
favouriteAppealing to the general public.
Their favourite Italian restaurant.
goodHaving the normally expected amount.
A good mechanic.
heartfelt(of a feeling or its expression) deeply and strongly felt; sincere.
Heartfelt condolences.
high-pricedHaving a high price.
lovableInspiring or deserving love or affection.
He has a lovable sweet personality.
lovedHeld dear.
His loved companion of many years.
lovelyAppealing to the emotions as well as the eye.
Lovely views.
much lovedGreat in quantity or degree or extent.
nearLocated on the nearside of a vehicle.
They are near equals.
niceSocially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous.
A nice shot.
overpricedToo costly for the value.
Overpriced hotels.
pleasantHaving pleasing manners or behavior.
They found him pleasant and cooperative.
preciousHeld in great esteem for admirable qualities especially of an intrinsic nature.
Precious works of art.
priceyHaving a high price.
Boutiques selling pricey clothes.
pricyHaving a high price.
prizedOf superior grade.
The bicycle was her most prized possession.
specialUsed to denote education for children with particular needs especially those with learning difficulties.
A special adviser to the committee.
sweetWith sweetening added.
A sweet little cat.
treasuredCharacterized by feeling or showing fond affection for.
A treasured heirloom.
valuedConsidered to be important or beneficial; cherished.
Triple valued.
winningAttractive; endearing.
A winning personality.
winsomeAttractive or appealing in a fresh, innocent way.
A winsome smile.

Usage Examples of "Dear" as an adjective

  • Martin, my dear fellow.
  • A dear friend.
  • Five pounds—that's a bit dear!
  • Much too dear for my pocketbook.
  • My sisters and brothers are near and dear.
  • He is very dear to me.
  • One's dearest wish.
  • A dear little puppy.

Dear as an Adverb

Definitions of "Dear" as an adverb

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, “dear” as an adverb can have the following definitions:

  • With affection.
  • At a high cost.
  • At a great cost.

Synonyms of "Dear" as an adverb (2 Words)

affectionatelyIn a way that displays fondness or tenderness.
Tammy embraced the girl and kissed the top of her head affectionately.
dearlyIn a sincere and heartfelt manner.
He loved his parents dearly.

Usage Examples of "Dear" as an adverb

  • She loved him dearly.
  • This cost him dear.
  • They buy property cheaply and sell dear.
  • He paid dearly for the food.

Associations of "Dear" (30 Words)

adoreLove intensely.
He just adored his wife.
belovedA beloved person used as terms of endearment.
The stark council estates beloved of town planners in the 1960s.
brethrenPeople belonging to a particular group.
Our brethren in the popular press.
compatriotA person from your own country.
Stich defeated his compatriot Boris Becker in the quarter finals.
countrymanA person from the same country as someone else.
They trust a fellow countryman.
dameAn elderly or mature woman.
A rich dame who took her husband to the cleaners.
darling(in affected use) pretty; charming.
A darling little pillbox hat.
doteA sweet or adorable person.
The parson is now old and dotes.
eros(Greek mythology) god of love; son of Aphrodite; identified with Roman Cupid.
esquire(Middle Ages) an attendant and shield bearer to a knight; a candidate for knighthood.
The lord of the manor, Richard Bethell Esquire.
fondlyWith affection or liking.
They fondly believed the cheers were for them.
friendshipA relationship between friends.
This is an ideal group for finding support and friendship.
guySteady or support with a guy wire or cable.
She never stopped guying him about his weight.
heterosexualA heterosexual person someone having a sexual orientation to persons of the opposite sex.
Heterosexual relationships.
husbandA married man considered in relation to his spouse.
She and her husband are both retired.
ladyUsed as a courteous designation for a female fellow member of the House of Commons.
A portrait of the lady of the house.
lovelyVery pleasant or enjoyable; delightful.
Don t worry my lovely.
ma'amA woman of refinement.
madamA conceited or bossy girl or young woman.
She s a proper little madam.
paramourA woman’s lover.
partnerAssociate or work together as partners.
She lived with her partner.
philanderHave amorous affairs; of men.
Married men who philander.
platonicFree from physical desire.
Their relationship is purely platonic.
romanticA writer or artist of the romantic movement.
He s very handsome and so romantic.
sincere(of a person) saying what they genuinely feel or believe; not dishonest or hypocritical.
She d sounded sincere enough.
sirUsed as a title before the forename of a knight or baronet.
Excuse me sir.
temptProvoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion.
There ll always be someone tempted by the rich pickings of poaching.
valuableSomething of value.
Put all your valuables in the hotel safe.
venerable(in the Roman Catholic Church) a title given to a deceased person who has attained a certain degree of sanctity but has not been fully beatified or canonized.
A venerable statesman.

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