Darling — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈdär-liŋ/ dar·ling

Meaning & Definition of Darling

Darling (noun)

  1. a dearly loved person
  2. favorite

Darling (adjective)

  1. dearly loved, favorite
  2. very pleasing, charming

Darling (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. granted special treatment or attention

    "they poured gifts and affection on their darling child"

    similar: beloved, cherished, 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

  2. having qualities that tend to make one loved

    "a darling child that any couple would want to adopt"

    similar: adorable, dear, disarming, endearing, lovable, lovesome, precious, sweet, winning, winsome
    related: embraceable, kissable, beloved, cherished, favored, favorite, loved, treasured, attractive, beautiful, desirable, lovely, alluring, appealing, captivating, charming, enchanting, engaging, entrancing, fascinating, fetching, admirable, likable, reputable, respectable, affable, agreeable, cheerful, cordial, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, kind, nice, pleasant, delightful, pleasing, well-disposed
    opposite: abhorrent, abominable, detestable, hateful, loathsome, odious, unlovable
    near: unloved, contemptible, disagreeable, disgusting, distasteful, heinous, horrible, lousy, nasty, offensive, unlikable, unpleasant, wretched, frightful, grotesque, hideous, ill-favored, monstrous, ogreish, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, ugly, unattractive, unsightly, vile, appalling, awful, dreadful, foul, horrendous, horrid, nauseating, noisome, obnoxious, obscene, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening

  3. giving pleasure or contentment to the mind or senses

    "what a darling set of dishes!"

    similar: agreeable, blessed, congenial, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, good, grateful, gratifying, heavenly, jolly, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant, pleasing, pleasurable, pretty, satisfying, savory, sweet, tasty, welcome
    related: alluring, attractive, desirable, enviable, inviting, relishable, tempting, charming, enchanting, fascinating, calming, comforting, soothing, amusing, diverting, entertaining, recreative, affable, amiable, cheerful, cheery, comfortable, gemütlich, genial, goodly, good-natured, gracious, hospitable, kindly, personable, blissful, felicific, glad, happy, joyous, elating, exhilarating, intoxicating, ecstatic, euphoric, nirvanic, rapturous
    opposite: disagreeable, pleasureless, unpalatable, unpleasant, unwelcome
    near: abominable, ghastly, god-awful, hellish, horrid, miserable, wretched, bilious, disgusting, distasteful, obnoxious, offensive, repellent, repugnant, repulsive, revulsive, unsavory, vile, yucky, abhorrent, detestable, hateful, odious, boring, commonplace, dull, flat, insipid, irksome, stale, tedious, displeasing, dissatisfying, depressing, disheartening, dismal, dreary, gloomy, heartbreaking, heartrending, joyless, lachrymose, sad, unhappy, deplorable, doleful, dolorous, lamentable, lugubrious, mournful, regrettable, sorrowful, tragic, aggravating, annoying, exasperating, irritating, peeving, perturbing, vexing, forbidding, hostile, intimidating, angering, enraging, incensing, inflaming, infuriating, maddening, outraging, rankling, riling, distressing, disturbing, upsetting

Darling (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person or thing that is preferred over others

    "for a while that candidate was the darling of the news media and could do no wrong"

    similar: fave, favorite, minion, pet, preference, speed, cup of tea
    related: beloved, dear, sweetheart, jewel, prize, treasure
    near: abomination, anathema, bête noire, bugbear

  2. a person with whom one is in love

    "anything you say, darling"

    similar: beloved, dear, flame, hon, honey, love, squeeze (slang), sweet, sweetheart, sweetie, sweetie pie, truelove
    related: beau, boy, boyfriend, fellow, man, swain, gal, girl, girlfriend, inamorata, ladylove, lass, mistress, tootsie, amour, lover, paramour, doll, duck(s) (chiefly British), pet, date, escort, steady, admirer, gallant, suitor, wooer, groom, husband, bride, wife, significant other, fiancé, intended, crush, heartthrob

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Darling

The most common words with a similar meaning to Darling:

Slang: squeeze
beloved, cherished, dear, fair-haired, favored, favorite, fond, loved, pet, precious, special, sweet, white-headed, adorable, disarming, endearing, lovable, lovesome, winning, winsome, agreeable, blessed, congenial, delectable, delicious, delightful, delightsome, dreamy, dulcet, enjoyable, felicitous, good, grateful, gratifying, heavenly, jolly, luscious, nice, palatable, pleasant

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Darling

Words with the opposite meaning of Darling:

unbeloved, abhorrent, abominable, detestable, hateful, loathsome, odious, unlovable, disagreeable, pleasureless, unpalatable, unpleasant, unwelcome

Related Words for Darling

admired, adored, appreciated, esteemed, relished, revered, prized, treasured, preferred, embraceable, kissable, attractive, beautiful, desirable, lovely, alluring, appealing, captivating, charming, enchanting, engaging, entrancing, fascinating, fetching, admirable, likable, reputable, respectable, affable, cheerful

Near Antonyms of Darling

abhorred, abominated, despised, detested, disdained, disfavored, disliked, execrated, hated, loathed, unfavorite, abandoned, forgotten, ignored, alienated, estranged, unloved, contemptible, disgusting, distasteful, heinous, horrible, lousy, nasty, offensive, unlikable, wretched, frightful, grotesque, hideous

Word Forms of Darling

Derived words: darlingly (adverb), darlingness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Darling

Middle English derling, from Old English dēorling, from dēore dear

First known use: before 12th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Darling

What does "Darling" mean?

"Darling" means a dearly loved person. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a dearly loved person. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Darling"?

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

What are different ways to say "Darling"?

There are 168 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Darling". Common alternatives include beloved, cherished, dear, fair-haired, favored, favorite, fond, loved, pet and precious.

What is the opposite of "Darling"?

Antonyms of "Darling" include unbeloved, abhorrent, abominable, detestable, hateful, loathsome, odious and unlovable. Near antonyms include abhorred, abominated, despised and detested.

How do you use "Darling" in a sentence?

Examples of "Darling" in a sentence: "they poured gifts and affection on their darling child"; "a darling child that any couple would want to adopt"; "what a darling set of dishes!".

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

"Darling" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Darling"?

"Darling" is pronounced /ˈdär-liŋ/ and divided into syllables as dar·ling.

What is the origin of the word "Darling"?

"Darling" comes from Middle English derling, from Old English dēorling, from dēore dear. First known use: before 12th century.