Cherished — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈcher-ish/ cher·ish

Meaning & Definition of Cherished

Cherished (verb)

  1. to hold dear, feel or show affection for
  2. to keep or cultivate with care and affection, nurture
  3. to entertain or harbor in the mind deeply and resolutely

Cherished (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. granted special treatment or attention

    "a cherished heirloom that has been in the family for generations"

    similar: beloved, darling, dear, fair-haired, favored, favorite, fond, loved, pet, precious, special, sweet, white-headed
    related: admired, adored, appreciated, esteemed, relished, revered, prized, treasured, preferred
    opposite: unbeloved
    near: abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, disdained, disfavored, disliked, execrated, hated, loathed, unfavorite, abandoned, forgotten, ignored, alienated, estranged

Cherished (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for

    "promised to love and cherish her husband forever"

    similar: adored, loved, worshipped, carried a torch (for), fell for, lost one's heart (to)
    related: adulated, canonized, deified, idealized, idolized, revered, reverenced, venerated, delighted (in), doted (on)
    opposite: abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, execrated, hated, loathed
    near: antagonized, displeased, disapproved (of), disfavored, disliked, disgusted, nauseated, repelled, repulsed, revolted, sickened, turned off

  2. to hold dear

    "we shall always cherish the keepsakes that our grandmother left us"

    similar: appreciated, loved, prized, treasured, valued, set store by
    related: delighted (in), dug, enjoyed, fancied, grooved (on), liked, relished, reveled (in), admired, apprized, esteemed, regarded, respected, revered, reverenced, venerated, enshrined, memorialized, adored, caressed, doted (on), idolized, worshipped
    opposite: disvalued
    near: undervalued, abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, execrated, hated, loathed, disdained, high-hatted, scorned, scouted, slighted, sniffed (at), snubbed, bad-mouthed, belittled, cried down, decried, deprecated, depreciated, disparaged, kissed off, minimized, put down, wrote off, abandoned, forgot, neglected

  3. to keep in one's mind or heart

    "after all these years, she still cherishes the memory of her first summer romance"

    similar: bore, entertained, had, harbored, held, nursed, held on to, hung on to
    related: cultivated, fostered, nurtured, supported, sustained, carried, kept, maintained, preserved, remembered, retained, treasured, cleaved (to), clung (to), hugged, stuck (to), brooded (about or over), fixated (on or upon), obsessed (about or over)
    near: disregarded, dropped, forgot, ignored, neglected, overlooked, abjured, declined, denied, disdained, refused, rejected, repudiated, scorned, abandoned, deserted, discarded, forsook, gave up, parted (with), quit, renounced, threw out, erased, expunged

Related Entry: Cherish (verb)

Cherish is a different word from Cherished. The synonyms below are for cherish, not for cherished.

  1. to feel passion, devotion, or tenderness for

    "promised to love and cherish her husband forever"

    similar: adore, love, worship, carry a torch (for), fall for, lose one's heart (to)
    related: adulate, canonize, deify, idealize, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, delight (in), dote (on)
    opposite: abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe
    near: antagonize, displease, disapprove (of), disfavor, dislike, disgust, nauseate, repel, repulse, revolt, sicken, turn off

  2. to hold dear

    "we shall always cherish the keepsakes that our grandmother left us"

    similar: appreciate, love, prize, treasure, value, set store by
    related: delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, relish, revel (in), admire, apprize, esteem, regard, respect, revere, reverence, venerate, enshrine, memorialize, adore, caress, dote (on), idolize, worship
    opposite: disvalue
    near: undervalue, abhor, abominate, despise, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, disdain, high-hat, scorn, scout, slight, sniff (at), snub, bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, deprecate, depreciate, disparage, kiss off, minimize, put down, write off, abandon, forget, neglect

  3. to keep in one's mind or heart

    "after all these years, she still cherishes the memory of her first summer romance"

    similar: bear, entertain, harbor, have, hold, nurse, hang on to, hold on to
    related: cultivate, foster, nurture, support, sustain, carry, keep, maintain, preserve, remember, retain, treasure, cleave (to), cling (to), hug, stick (to), brood (about or over), fixate (on or upon), obsess (about or over)
    near: disregard, drop, forget, ignore, neglect, overlook, abjure, decline, deny, disdain, refuse, reject, repudiate, scorn, abandon, desert, discard, forsake, give up, part (with), quit, renounce, throw out, erase, expunge

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Cherished

The most common words with a similar meaning to Cherished:

beloved, darling, dear, fair-haired, favored, favorite, fond, loved, pet, precious, special, sweet, white-headed, adored, worshipped, appreciated, prized, treasured, valued, bore, entertained, had, harbored, held, nursed, carried a torch (for), fell for, lost one's heart (to), set store by, held on to, hung on to

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Cherished

Words with the opposite meaning of Cherished:

unbeloved, abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, execrated, hated, loathed, disvalued

Related Words for Cherished

admired, esteemed, relished, revered, preferred, adulated, canonized, deified, idealized, idolized, reverenced, venerated, delighted (in), doted (on), dug, enjoyed, fancied, grooved (on), liked, reveled (in), apprized, regarded, respected, enshrined, memorialized, caressed, cultivated, fostered, nurtured, supported

Near Antonyms of Cherished

disdained, disfavored, disliked, unfavorite, abandoned, forgotten, ignored, alienated, estranged, antagonized, displeased, disapproved (of), disgusted, nauseated, repelled, repulsed, revolted, sickened, turned off, undervalued, high-hatted, scorned, scouted, slighted, sniffed (at), snubbed, bad-mouthed, belittled, cried down, decried

Word Forms of Cherished

Inflections: cherishing, cherishes

Derived words: cherishable (adjective), cherisher (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Cherished

Middle English cherisshen, from Anglo-French cheriss-, stem of cherir to cherish, from cher dear, from Latin carus charity

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Cherished

What does "Cherished" mean?

"Cherished" means to hold dear, feel or show affection for. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to hold dear, feel or show affection for. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Cherished"?

Other words for "Cherished" include beloved, darling, dear, fair-haired, favored, favorite, fond and loved. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Cherished" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Cherished"?

There are 75 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Cherished". Common alternatives include beloved, darling, dear, fair-haired, favored, favorite, fond, loved, pet and precious.

What is the opposite of "Cherished"?

Antonyms of "Cherished" include unbeloved, abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, execrated, hated and loathed. Near antonyms include disdained, disfavored, disliked and unfavorite.

How do you use "Cherished" in a sentence?

Examples of "Cherished" in a sentence: "a cherished heirloom that has been in the family for generations"; "promised to love and cherish her husband forever"; "we shall always cherish the keepsakes that our grandmother left us".

Is "Cherished" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Cherished" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Cherished"?

"Cherished" is pronounced /ˈcher-ish/ and divided into syllables as cher·ish.

What is the origin of the word "Cherished"?

"Cherished" comes from Middle English cherisshen, from Anglo-French cheriss-, stem of cherir to cherish, from cher dear, from Latin carus charity. First known use: 14th century.