dear friend
Treasured close ally
A dear friend is someone you feel genuine warmth and affection toward, not merely an acquaintance or casual companion.
The word dear elevates the relationship, suggesting emotional closeness, trust, and often a long history together.
She's been a dear friend since college.
The phrase appears frequently in letters and eulogies, where it signals sincere attachment rather than polite formality.
- bestieClosest pal, informally
- bosom buddyClosest personal companion
- confidantTrusted keeper of secrets
- kindred spiritPerson with shared sensibilities
- trustConfidence in another
old pal · soulmate · true blue · support · shoulder to cry on · affection · heart-to-heart · kindness · heart of gold · comfort · companionship · warmth · forgiveness · ride-or-die · through thick and thin · partner in crime · tried and true · understanding
- friendspal, buddy, pals, buddies, bestfriend
- Friendshipbestie, BFF, buddy, pal, companion
- greetingshi, hello, hey, hola, aloha
- familiarityfamiliar, unfamiliar, known, unknown, acquainted
- reunion phraseslong time no see, familiar face, good old days, welcome back, back again
- correspondenceletters, letter, handwritten letters, family letters, missives
dear friendsworn enemy
Vowed lifelong adversary
mortal enemy · bitter enemy · archenemy · nemesis · foe
dear, friend, friendly, friendship, unfriendly, dearest, friends, unfriend, befriend