nearness

noun

Definition of nearnessnext
1
as in intimacy
the state of being in a very personal or private relationship my cousin and I have lost that nearness we had when we were kids

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in proximity
the state or condition of being near our nearness to the theme park has made us beloved by relatives from all over the country

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 nearness This can be blamed on the nearness of the fires (north of the Minnesota arrowhead region) and the shear number and size of fires in that area. — Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 17 July 2026 The nearness of the zealous asteroid Eris in Aries adds a touch of drama and intensity to the cosmic atmosphere. — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 10 June 2026 City officials say the project is complicated because of the nearness of the freeway and the Los Angeles River. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026 That tension—between nearness and distance, inside and outside—defines the film’s structure and tone. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026 The nearness of bees, and of other things that agitate most people, calms me. — Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025 Overstating the nearness of human-level intelligence or ignoring ethical, safety, and energy concerns erodes trust and triggers backlash. — Paulo Carvão, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nearness
  1. intimacy
  2. proximity
  3. familiarity
  4. belonging
  5. kinship
Noun
  • Her gaze gives both scenes an inviting intimacy, like the audience has a front-row seat to Alice letting her guard down.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The threat of the prison is that you’re targeted and unfree, packed into a queasy, pressurized intimacy with the most dangerous parts of yourself and others.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of intimacy
Noun
  • Tennoz’s proximity to Haneda Airport has also helped make the area one of Tokyo’s leading art destinations, attracting contemporary art collectors and enthusiasts from Japan and abroad.
    — The Editors of ARTnews, ARTnews.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In practice, American pilots will be able to detect an enemy on radar, launch the missile from extreme ranges and destroy the target before coming within close proximity to the enemy, potentially increasing the pilot's survivability.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of proximity
Noun
  • Getty One of the Hard Rock's staying powers comes from making that familiarity feel rooted in the destination.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026
  • McDonough has an experienced resume, with plenty of familiarity leading a company involved in manufacturing.
    — Jeff Marks,Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of familiarity
Noun
  • Most of the time the couple has to borrow money from friends or sell some of their belongings to make ends meet.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
  • That’s how Duncan ended up at the motel across the Red River in Alexandria, with half of his belongings packed into the back of a truck.
    — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of belonging
Noun
  • Carrington in particular models what some have termed an ecofeminist approach, one that does not appropriate animals for the artist’s own self-revelation but instead develops kinship across species.
    — Kelly Presutti, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Many here say that, despite Iceland’s European roots, the country feels just as much kinship with the United States – if not more.
    — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of kinship

Browse Nearby Words

near misses
nearness
nears
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Cite this Entry

“Nearness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nearness. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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