CHERISH Synonyms: 126 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'cherish' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of cherish are appreciate , prize , treasure , and value . While all these words mean "to hold in high estimation," cherish implies a special love and care for something. // cherishes her children above all

Q: When can 'appreciate' be used instead of 'cherish'?

In some situations, the words appreciate and cherish are roughly equivalent. However, appreciate often connotes sufficient understanding to enjoy or admire a thing's excellence. // appreciates fine wine

Q: When would 'prize' be a good substitute for 'cherish'?

The synonyms prize and cherish are sometimes interchangeable, but prize implies taking a deep pride in something one possesses. // Americans prize their freedom

Q: Where would 'treasure' be a reasonable alternative to 'cherish'?

Although the words treasure and cherish have much in common, treasure emphasizes jealously safeguarding something considered precious. // a treasured memento

Q: When could 'value' be used to replace 'cherish'?

The meanings of value and cherish largely overlap; however, value implies rating a thing highly for its intrinsic worth. // values our friendship

cherish

verb

ˈcher-ish

Definition of cherish

as in to love

to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for promised to love and cherish her husband forever

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to treasure

to hold dear we shall always cherish the keepsakes that our grandmother left us

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to have

to keep in one's mind or heart after all these years, she still cherishes the memory of her first summer romance

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word cherish different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of cherish are appreciate, prize, treasure, and value. While all these words mean "to hold in high estimation," cherish implies a special love and care for something.

cherishes her children above all

When can appreciate be used instead of cherish?

In some situations, the words appreciate and cherish are roughly equivalent. However, appreciate often connotes sufficient understanding to enjoy or admire a thing's excellence.

appreciates fine wine

When would prize be a good substitute for cherish?

The synonyms prize and cherish are sometimes interchangeable, but prize implies taking a deep pride in something one possesses.

Americans prize their freedom

Where would treasure be a reasonable alternative to cherish?

Although the words treasure and cherish have much in common, treasure emphasizes jealously safeguarding something considered precious.

a treasured memento

When could value be used to replace cherish?

The meanings of value and cherish largely overlap; however, value implies rating a thing highly for its intrinsic worth.

values our friendship

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 cherish Reese cherishes that milestone, when the NAIA turned girls’ flag into women’s flag. — Tim Graham, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Now our tears flow in sadness, but also with gratitude for all the beautiful memories of our sweet, kind, hilarious, cherished Bob. — Diana Pearl, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 Ohtani’s West Sacramento at-bats worth cherishing Ohtani might go down as the best baseball player of all time, providing unique memories to sports fans in Sacramento. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026 Messi’s Inter Miami and Argentina teammate, and close friend, Rodrigo De Paul, is cherishing every moment Messi plays. — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cherish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cherish

Verb

Batters love to hit in Sacramento The Dodgers had dominated the A’s in the previous two games, scoring nine runs in both for victories of 9-4 and 9-3, respectively.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Brushed with honey mustard and topped with ham, Gruyère cheese, and béchamel sauce, guests will love these buttery mini sandwiches.

— Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 1 July 2026

Definition of love

Verb

Situated in an elegant French neoclassical building in Barcelona’s Eixample district, the hotel puts you just footsteps away from luxury shopping, restaurants adored by locals, and masterpieces by Gaudí and other Spanish architects.

— Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 7 July 2026
This French onion pasta side dish is loaded with deep, savory flavors that our recipe testers adored.

— Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 July 2026

Definition of adore

Verb

Caparelli-Ruff said the office appreciated working with the County Board to receive bipartisan support for school safety improvements.

— Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
In Texas, appreciating the process of patriotism Rodney Ellis will celebrate at picnics around his precinct in Houston with barbecue pork ribs and ice tea, and a heaping helping of worry about the nation's future.

— Susan Bence, NPR, 4 July 2026

Definition of appreciate

Verb

The next step in the process involves the city drafting a redevelopment plan outlining development standards before holding public hearings and seeking additional approvals.

— Teresa Mull, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
The handoff that seems minor may decide whether the whole plan holds.

— Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 5 July 2026

Definition of hold

Verb

Francis retained a stake of more than 70%, which Forbes valued at more than $900 million at the time.

— Robert Olsen, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
In late May, Cognition raised more than $1 billion in a new funding round that valued the startup at $26 billion, more than doubling its valuation from a September 2025 round.

— Nicholas Gordon, Fortune, 3 July 2026

Definition of value

Verb

The Heat began Tuesday by retaining three-point shooting forward Simone Fontecchio in free agency, and then continued to address its need for outside shooting when league-wide free agent negotiations were permitted to begin Tuesday night.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026
Buildings with no air conditioning will heat up and retain the heat.

— Bill Kelly, CBS News, 1 July 2026

Definition of retain

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chemists

cherish

cherished

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“Cherish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cherish. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of cherish

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