A person who shares one's important interests, values, or way of seeing the world.
Reach for it when describing unusually easy recognition and affinity between people
Leila found a kindred spirit in the new conservator who loved forgotten maps.
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
everyday
peer
Fits when equal standing or shared experience matters
Careful A peer can have little personal affinity.
warm
Fits when trust permits sharing private thoughts
Careful A confidant is defined by secrecy and trust, not similarity.
warm
Fits when a profound intimate bond is genuinely meant
Careful Soulmate often implies romance or destiny and overstates a new friendship.
professional
Fits when someone actively supports the same goal or community
Careful An ally may differ deeply in temperament and interests.
professional
like-minded person
Fits when shared views or goals are the factual basis
Careful Like-minded may concern one issue and lacks the personal resonance of kindred spirit.
formal
comrade
Fits when shared struggle creates durable solidarity
Careful Comrade can sound political, military, or impersonal.
literary
fellow traveler
Fits when people share a cause or intellectual path
Careful Fellow traveler carries political history and may imply ideology.
true kindred spirit
She recognized a true kindred spirit in the patient young conductor.
fellow kindred spirit
Each fellow kindred spirit brought a different craft to the cooperative.
find a kindred spirit
Travelers often find a kindred spirit around a shared table.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Commander Keane, Australian accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated
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