PRECIOUS Synonyms: 166 Similar and Opposite Words

precious

adjective

ˈpre-shəs

Definition of precious

as in valuable

commanding a large price diamonds and other precious stones

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in cherished

granted special treatment or attention parents who refuse to hear the slightest criticism of their precious children

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dear

having qualities that tend to make one loved a precious friend for whom I would do anything

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 precious To face these new challenges, Astrid and Raphaëlle are forced to completely reinvent their relationship, potentially threatening their precious friendship. — Ed Meza, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Best Fall Boot Trends Worth Shopping in 2026 At Hermès, Proenza Schouler, and Tory Burch, riding boots returned with a utilitarian sensibility, favoring structured leather, streamlined shafts, and minimal hardware over anything too precious. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 French jewelry maison Boucheron was founded in 1858 and built a legacy of adorning royals, stars and magnates in jewelry that combines precious, rare gems with equally ingenious designs. — Tanya Dukes, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2026 The recordings, first obtained by The Associated Press, show that precious minutes elapsed as officials and responders tried to figure out whether a request for emergency help in the execution chamber was legitimate. — CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for precious

Recent Examples of Synonyms for precious

Adjective

Regional authorities said that the entire caper was conducted within three minutes and that the thieves targeted the most valuable paintings in the museum, which occupies the French old master’s one-time residence.

— News Desk, Artforum, 12 Oct. 2026
Bassetti argued that the company’s scale represented an increasingly valuable asset for streamers.

— Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of valuable

Adjective

Atlanta Public Schools extended condolences to Kariem's family, friends and loved ones, describing him as a cherished member of the school and district communities.

— CBS News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
The pair are swept into outdoor adventures and cherished camp traditions, where an unforgettable group of Camp Rangers remind them that success is not always about accomplishments and sparks begin to fly on all levels as things do not go to plan.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of cherished

Adjective

His proficiency, buoyed by his expensive taste and skill in daisy-chaining images together, got his foot in the door of the indie-rap revitalization.

— Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 15 Oct. 2026
Without more batteries, Illinois will be even more reliant on dirty, expensive electricity imports from other states and more likely to delay the natural gas power plant closures it’s planned for years to clean the air.

— John Lippert, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of expensive

Adjective

Friends and loved ones are mourning the man who fell to his death Monday while riding a roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia.

— Sarah Lynch Baldwin, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
Win or lose, a candidate’s campaign will consume their life and their loved ones’; a victory guarantees their life will change forever.

— Ben Smith, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of loved

Adjective

That’s when Wormie World, an art scavenger hunt featuring hundreds of adorable ceramic worms, will host its third annual free urban art hunt throughout the city’s central neighborhoods.

— Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Today’s recipe More adorable than spooky, these Halloween treats are nothing more than homemade marshmallows, using just a handful of ingredients.

— Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of adorable

Adjective

The Georgia quarterback threw two interceptions for the first time as the Bulldogs’ starter and had a costly late fumble that set up Auburn’s game-winning field goal.

— Connor Riley, AJC.com, 18 Oct. 2026
While very effective, this can be a very costly enterprise, especially in colder weather.

— Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of costly

Adjective

There has been a tremendous amount of recent development in Chelsea, but, ever the story in New York City, as beloved old places close their doors, new favorites emerge.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
Customers will find the usual array of irresistible doughnuts, including DK’s beloved maple bacon bar.

— Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of beloved

Browse Nearby Words

precincts

precious

precipice

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Precious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precious. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of precious

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

compunction

Popular in Grammar & Usage

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

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

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

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

Popular

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

Games & Quizzes