Loved
adj.kind, calmwarm
What it means
Held in deep affection and treated as emotionally important.
Reach for it when describing a person, animal, place, or object that receives genuine love
The loved child knew mistakes would not cost her family's care.
Choose between these
7- playful
intense delighted affection is visible
not when Adored may exaggerate quiet, steady love.
- everyday
preference among alternatives is the actual claim
not when Favorite ranks the subject and does not prove deep affection.
- warm
protective valuing and preciousness are central
not when Cherished can describe objects more naturally than reciprocal relationships.
- warm
careful keeping or valuing is the main image
not when Treasured can sound possessive when used for a person.
- professional
broad social approval is established but love is too strong
not when Well-liked is much cooler than loved.
- literary
deep, widely recognized affection deserves elevated language
not when Beloved is stronger and more ceremonial than loved.
- literary
personal closeness is expressed concisely
not when Dear reflects the speaker's feeling rather than a broadly loved status.
Said against
3- unloved
- rejected
- despised
It naturally appears in
3- feel loved
Consistent attention helped every resident feel loved.
- much-loved
The much-loved cinema reopened with its original sign.
- deeply loved
He was deeply loved for his patience and dry humor.
The word family
3Where this comes from
- merriam-webster, adjective, single sense opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.