darling 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of darlingnext
1
as in loved
granted special treatment or attention they poured gifts and affection on their darling child

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in adorable
having qualities that tend to make one loved a darling child that any couple would want to adopt

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in delightful
giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses what a darling set of dishes!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

darling

2 of 2

noun

ˈdär-liŋ How to pronounce darling (audio)
1
as in favorite
a person or thing that is preferred over others for a while that candidate was the darling of the news media and could do no wrong

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sweetheart
a person with whom one is in love anything you say, darling

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 darling
Adjective
Linen-blend Beach Pants are tailor-made for the season with their darling blue gingham pattern and relaxed fit. — Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2026 Stetson and Samuel -- my darling young men -- were sitting at the table, shoving and pulling one another in equally groggy measure. — Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
South Korea’s high-flying Kospi stock index, which is dominated by AI darlings SK Hynix, and Samsung, set a new record a few weeks ago only to suffer its fifth worst daily plunge ever days later. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 5 July 2026 Defending champion Argentina survived an upset bid by World Cup darling Cabo Verde 3-2 earlier Friday and next takes on Egypt Tuesday in a Round of 16 game at Atlanta. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for darling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for darling
  1. loved
  2. adorable
  3. delightful
  4. favorite
  5. sweetheart
  6. beloved
  7. dear
  8. sweet
Adjective
  • Along with the cooling centers, pools and splash pads will also be available, and well-being checks for friends and loved ones are available through 311.
    — Charlie De Mar, CBS News, 29 June 2026
  • When a fatal traffic collision happens in Tarrant County, families don’t just lose a loved one.
    — William Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026
Definition of loved
Adjective
  • Or keep your blowout intact when doing your makeup or washing your face thanks to these adorable terry cloth headbands.
    — Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • In that episode, lone wolf Gibbs got a new special friend, an adorable dog.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of adorable
Adjective
  • Small in size but big on personality, Little Spirit remains one of Atlanta’s most consistently delightful neighborhood cocktail bars.
    — Blair Crosby, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
  • Sidny Lopes Cabral’s delightful curling strike was one of the great World Cup moments and the image of him in the crowd right after was poignant.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of delightful
Noun
  • Now England, one of the World Cup title favorites, will face Norway, one of the tournament’s surprise teams that upset Brazil, in a tournament quarterfinal to be played on July 11 in Miami.
    — Eduard Cauich, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Walk the rows, clip your favorites and take home a custom bouquet.
    — Melissa Oyler, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
Definition of favorite
Noun
  • The book follows the relationship between Canadian sweetheart Shane Hollander and Russian bad boy Ilya Rosanov.
    — Janey Wetzel, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • One early triumph was an award-winning 1998 Moesha episode in which the titular teen, played by America’s R&B sweetheart Brandy, is prescribed birth control.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 29 June 2026
Definition of sweetheart
Adjective
  • For something slower and more sceney, Bardot-era Le Club 55 remains one of the most beloved lunches on the peninsula and is often visited by the Hollywood crowd.
    — Karli Poliziani, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026
  • Anixter, Wrigleyville’s beloved ‘Pink Hat Guy,’ died Tuesday night from complications with surgery, according to his family.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of beloved
Adjective
  • My dear friend has been in communication with someone online (and by phone) who claims to be a famous celebrity.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2026
  • Dying was such a momentous thing to do, and while Matthew, their dear friend, their cousin-brother, had been off doing it, the women had occupied themselves with such frivolities as cleaning and heat.
    — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of dear
Adjective
  • Even sweeter, Home Chef and Gordon Ramsay have collaborated to bring restaurant-quality, five-star meals to home kitchens through Home Chef's meal kit service.
    — Rachel Cortez, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • This crowd pleaser, invented by bartender Sam Ross in 2008, gets its charm from two different bittersweet Italian liqueurs, even though the resulting cocktail is neither particularly bitter nor sweet.
    — Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 4 July 2026
Definition of sweet

Browse Nearby Words

darksome
darling
darlingness
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Cite this Entry

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

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Nglish: Translation of darling for Spanish Speakers

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