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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Tallulah has previously opened up about cherishing and documenting her time with her father. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 The view looking out at the Pacific Ocean while sitting in a chair or hanging on the railing at the Mountain is something to cherish. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026 Through creativity, passion, and craftsmanship, that dream becomes something tangible, something that can be worn, cherished, and passed on through generations. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 21 Sep. 2026 The amount of visitors that crowded the hospital lobby at a moment’s notice is a testament to how beloved and cherished Chad was, and always will be. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cherish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cherish

Verb

The theme of Season 2, Harjo says, is to figure out how to love yourself — and how that love will extend to everyone else in your life.

— Michael Schneider, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
Always one for a picture-perfect moment of her family, Joan loved to put the kids in matching outfits while entertaining guests at home.

— Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of love

Verb

Canes fans need not be reminded, but treasure every moment watching Toney.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
After a brief stint in the transfer portal in January, the former Hawklet stayed in Ann Arbor where his length (6-7, 310) and power in the run game are treasured.

— PJ Green September 16, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of treasure

Verb

At the Fondation Cartier, people will have free access to them.

— Gameli Hamelo, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026
Sullivan denied that the law would cut Medicaid for Alaskans, saying the Affordable Care Act had a greater impact and raised insurance premiums in the state drastically.

— Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of have

Verb

An outgoing kid from the suburbs of Buffalo, New York, who adored his little sister, Burch never regained consciousness.

— Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
No other branch takes such delight in going its own way, regularly giving a cold shoulder to titles the rest of the industry adores.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of adore

Verb

Apple Turnovers Grandma always appreciated a smart shortcut, and these apple turnovers have that—frozen puff pastry makes the crust on these turnovers quick and easy.

— Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 18 Oct. 2026
Years later, Kancey appreciated cheesesteaks from D’Alessandro’s, a shop known for its amazing bread.

— Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of appreciate

Verb

Deep underground, iron-rich rocks could hold the key to producing hydrogen at a fraction of the cost of conventional fuels.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 18 Oct. 2026
Firms that know exactly where the line sits hold quiet advantages their competitors cannot purchase or replicate.

— Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of hold

Verb

ElevenLabs established itself as one of the most highly valued of those startups this month with a $300 million employee tender, at a $22 billion price tag.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
At the top end of the price range, Jio Platforms is valued at around $108 billion, much lower than previously expected.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of value

Verb

More sports news Boxing champion Daniel Dubois retained his WBO heavyweight title with a brutal second-round stoppage of Fabio Wardley on Saturday at the O2 Arena in London.

— Kayla Hayempour, NBC news, 18 Oct. 2026
The Connecticut Business and Industry Association’s annual business survey, released in September, found that some 72% of respondents reported having difficulty finding and retaining workers, with skill gaps being a notable part of the problem.

— P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of retain

Browse Nearby Words

chemists

cherish

cherished

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cherish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cherish. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of cherish

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes