fondness

noun

ˈfän(d)-nəs How to pronounce fondness (audio)
Definition of fondnessnext
1
as in love
a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone my fondness for you will never fail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in liking
positive regard for something I have a fondness for expensive chocolate

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 fondness The director felt that using technology of the time that the manga was written felt thematically appropriate, but at the same time, there is admittedly a little nostalgic fondness at play. — Kambole Campbell, Variety, 24 June 2026 One islander in particular — 22-year-old Trinity Celeste Tatum, who was introduced as part of the OG group this season — has a fondness for interesting footwear. — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 2 July 2026 Haaland, the Norwegian striker with a fondness for man-buns, Viking lore, and cow heart, has scored four goals in his first two World Cup games—two against Iraq on June 16, and another pair versus Senegal on Monday. — Sean Gregory, Time, 24 June 2026 And without doubting the ongoing popularity of Toy Story and its sequels, the group most likely to look with special fondness upon Sheriff Woody, Buzz Lightyear, and the like are those who saw the first movie 31 years ago — once again, the parents. — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 27 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for fondness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fondness
  1. love
  2. liking
  3. affection
  4. like
  5. passion
  6. preference
  7. appetite
Noun
  • But can this love story survive the Jackson ranch's shady dealings?
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Keep up with the arts, keep up with the love, and share a plate of food with your neighbor.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
Definition of love
Noun
  • They’re designed with a drawstring waistband to adjust the fit to your liking, plus two side pockets, two cargo pockets, and two back pockets to hold your essentials.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
  • Plus, the straps can be tightened or loosened to your liking.
    — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of liking
Noun
  • The inspiration came out of the genuine affection that both my troop and our trainers felt toward the pigs.
    — Deborah Treisman, New Yorker, 28 June 2026
  • White one-upped her player’s show of affection by wrapping both arms around her.
    — Candace Buckner, New York Times, 27 June 2026
Definition of affection
Noun
  • At match time expect a dip to the upper-80s with a feels-like of 96.
    — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
  • Fae introduced Amad for No 8 Christ Inao Oulai and switched Bonny with Elye Wahi in a like-for-like change.
    — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of like
Noun
  • Mars and Uranus’ alignment inspires you to follow your passions, but be mindful of the risks involved!
    — USA TODAY, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Just don’t mistake them for the biggest Fourth of July fans — their passion is history, not patriotic celebrations.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of passion
Noun
  • These distinct sauce styles are all rooted in traditions that developed in the coastal South, influenced by shifting populations, regional preferences, and supply chains.
    — Amethyst Ganaway, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
  • As carbuyers' preferences have shifted, pricier vehicles have become the norm at dealerships, leaving budget-conscious shoppers with fewer affordable models to choose from.
    — Mike Winters, CNBC, 1 July 2026
Definition of preference
Noun
  • Symptoms of cyclosporiasis occur between two days and two weeks after exposure, and include frequent watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight, abdominal cramps and bloating, nausea and low-grade fever.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
  • Monroe County health officials say symptoms occur two to 14 days after exposure and include frequent watery diarrhea, loss of appetite and weight, cramps and bloating, nausea and low-grade fever.
    — DeJanay Booth-Singleton, CBS News, 30 June 2026
Definition of appetite

Browse Nearby Words

fondling
fondness
font
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on fondness

Nglish: Translation of fondness for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All