doves

noun

plural of dove
1
as in pacifists
a person who opposes war or warlike policies the doves were in favor of using the surplus to improve the nation's schools and not its weapons systems

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in angels
an innocent or gentle person he's a dove who wouldn't hurt a fly

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 doves Everyone likes to eat the doves, but wood pigeons are the real treat. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026 Mourning doves are the most common species of bird struck, accounting for about 11% of incidents, the FAA said. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 That is much worse than calling birds, French hens, turtle doves and partridges and would certainly make for a terrible Christmas song. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 The kids were standing in a meadow, surrounded by white doves and gazing up toward a cloudy sky in which a ray of light could just be seen. — Literary Hub, 28 July 2026 After making both doves and critics cry in its out-of-town tryouts, the Purple Rain musical adaptation is heading to Broadway. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 27 July 2026 On Thursday morning, fat bees perched on black-and-blue sage flowers, and doves loudly fluttered from fruit tree to fruit tree. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026 Monetary policy expectations can change rapidly, but this week has been a tough one for the doves. — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 23 July 2026 In Christianity, doves are associated with the Holy Spirit and symbolize purity and faith. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doves
  1. pacifists
  2. angels
  3. innocents
  4. sheep
  5. lambs
Noun
  • However, it was criticized by pacifists at home and China for deviating from Japan’s postwar self-defense only principle.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
  • All voiceover in the film is detached from the images, from a mixture of unidentified community folk who are content to speak anonymously, and neighboring outsiders perplexed by these out-of-time pacifists.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 21 Nov. 2025
Definition of pacifists
Noun
  • Kuiper compared World Central Kitchen and other volunteers to angels.
    — Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • May God’s angels carry you to your place of rest and true peace.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of angels
Noun
  • On that terrible day, millions of Americans witnessed airplanes flying into buildings, people jumping off skyscrapers, and the Twin Towers collapsing with thousands of innocents inside.
    — Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
  • The Night Court will not stand idly by while innocents are attacked.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of innocents
Noun
  • The shepherd’s rod and staff, tools used in tending and protecting sheep, reinforce the sense of security.
    — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Some herders moved 100 miles (about 160 kilometers) with their cattle in search of water and grazing land; others stayed closer to home with sheep and goats.
    — Anne Pisor, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of sheep
Noun
  • Madilynn Becker, Miss Kansas USA Miss Kansas USA Madilynn Becker grew up showing livestock in the 4-H circuit, where youth can show animals like hogs, cows, and, in Becker’s case, lambs.
    — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Bartenders serve a small selection of wine in short glasses emblazoned with white lambs, and a cocktail list features beverages that range from light and herbaceous to sweet and heady.
    — USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of lambs

Browse Nearby Words

dovecotes
doves
dovetail
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Cite this Entry

“Doves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doves. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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