Best-loved
What it means
Cherished with exceptional affection among familiar people or things.
Reach for it when praising enduring emotional attachment, not just popularity
The town's best-loved storyteller returned for the library centenary.
Words to choose between 6
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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everyday
Fits when one option is preferred above the rest
Careful Favorite may reflect taste without deep affection.
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warm
Fits when strong personal or communal love is the exact emphasis
Careful Beloved need not be compared with other familiar choices.
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warm
Fits when care and emotional value have grown over time
Careful Cherished can describe something private rather than widely loved.
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professional
Fits when many people choose or approve of the subject
Careful Popularity measures reach and may exist without affection.
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formal
Fits when affection or appeal has lasted across time
Careful Enduring says nothing about how warmly the subject is loved.
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literary
Fits when the subject is protected because of deep personal value
Careful For a public performer, treasured carries an awkward hint of possession.
Opposites 3
- unpopular
- forgotten
- disliked
Common phrases 3
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best-loved book
The best-loved book in the collection bears marks from four generations.
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best-loved character
The festival's best-loved character leads the lantern procession.
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best-loved tradition
Their best-loved tradition now includes every new family.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Updated