nearest and dearest
Your inner circle
Nearest and dearest refers to one's closest family members and most intimate friends—the people who matter most in someone's life.
The phrase treats emotional closeness and physical proximity as overlapping concepts, suggesting that those we love most are also those we keep closest to us.
I'm spending the holidays with my nearest and dearest.
It often appears in contexts involving important life events, difficult times, or celebrations where only the inner circle is present.
Held dear, prized
- belovedOne who is treasured
- preciousHighly esteemed, greatly valued
- closeNearby or to shut
- inner circleExclusive group of confidants
confidants · soulmate · bosom friends · companions · trusted · devoted · inseparable · tight-knit
Family members collectively
- relativesThose connected by blood
- siblingsFellow offspring
- parentsMother and father
- offspringBiological descendants produced
clan · household · next of kin · bloodline · lineage · ancestors · descendants · kith and kin
cherished
Held dear, prized
inner circle · confidants · soulmate · bosom friends · companions · trusted · devoted · inseparable · tight-knit · bonded
kinfolk
Family members collectively
offspring · clan · household · next of kin · bloodline · lineage · ancestors · descendants · kith and kin · brood
nearest and deareststrangers
People unknown to you
enemies · sworn enemies · worst enemies · adversaries · foes
nearest and deareststrangers
People unknown to you
complete strangers · perfect strangers · acquaintances · outsiders · nodding acquaintances
nearly, nearby, dearest, endearing, nearest, nearness, dearly, nearer, endear