dears
Sweethearts, affectionately addressed
Dears is the plural of dear—people who are loved or cherished: All my dears gathered for the holiday.
It also serves as a familiar address to a group: Now, dears, let's get started.
The usage sounds warm but slightly old-fashioned, more common among older speakers or in affectionate, informal contexts.
Treasured people or things
- sweetheartsRomantic partners, affectionately named
- loved onesCherished people in life
- belovedsThose deeply cherished
- honeysEndearments or bee products
sweeties · treasures · loved · adored · cherished · treasured · affectionate · fondness
darlings
Treasured people or things
- sweetheartsRomantic partners, affectionately named
- loved onesCherished people in life
- belovedsThose deeply cherished
honeys · sweeties · treasures · loved · adored · cherished · treasured · affectionate · fondness · devotion
fawns
Flatters obsequiously
antlers · hoofprints · browsing · grazing · ungulates · ruminants · herd · forest · meadow · woodland
dearsenemies
Hostile opposing parties
foes · adversaries · antagonists · nemeses · villains
dearsstrangers
People unknown to you
enemies · foes · unknowns · outsiders · adversaries
dearsvillains
Evil characters in narratives
scoundrels · wretches · pariahs · outcasts · undesirables
- dear GodExclamation of dismay
- my dearTerm of endearment
- oh dearMild expression of distress
- dear friendCherished intimate companion
- for dear lifeWith utmost urgency
- dear LordShocked invocation
dear, dearest, endearing, endear, endearment, dearer, endeared, endearingly, dearness