Word.ws English Dictionary

Synonyms of friend

59 similar words · 20 opposite words

Another word for friend is companion. Other synonyms of friend are ally, compadre and gink. The opposite of friend is enemy.

Synonyms and similar words for friend

nounA person with whom one is vaguely or indirectly acquainted.

nounA person who backs or supports something.

nounUsed as a form of address when warning someone.

  • buster
  • mate BritishA friend, usually of the same sex.
  • palA friend, buddy, mate, cobber; someone to hang around with.
  • buddyA friend or casual acquaintance.
  • sonnyForm of address to a boy or man, to express contempt, warning etc.

nounA lover; a boyfriend or girlfriend.

  • loverAn informal term of address for any friend.

nounUsed to refer collectively to a group of associated individuals, especially those comprising a...

nounSympathizer, helper.

  • allyA person who co-operates with or helps another; an associate; a friend.

nounMore synonyms

  • babber UKA friend.
  • billy UKA good friend.
  • bredrinA close male friend, family member, or comrade.
  • bruv UKBrother, mate, friend.
  • bud Canada, USBuddy, friend.
  • buddo Canada, USBuddy, friend.
  • butty UKA friend.
  • chaverA friend or comrade; a chavrusa.
  • china UK
  • chuck UKA friend or close acquaintance; term of endearment.
  • chum UKA friend; a pal.
  • cock Australia, UK
  • cocker UKFriend, mate.
  • cobber AustraliaA pal, buddy, mate, friend; often used in direct address by one male to another.
  • compadreA friend or companion.
  • comrade
  • companionA friend, acquaintance or partner; someone with whom one spends time or accompanies.
  • cove AustraliaFriend; mate.
  • cronyA close friend.
  • dawgTerm of address for a close, usually male, friend.
  • dude
  • duck UKDear, mate (informal way of addressing a friend or stranger).
  • famA term of endearment between friends; derived from "family" but not used between relatives.
  • fettler UKA friend or mate.
  • geez UKInformal address to a male.
  • geezer UKTerm of address for a male.
  • ginkA guy, a fellow, especially (derogatory) a foolish, unworldly, or socially inept man; a goof.
  • good old boyA male friend, especially a childhood friend; a man with an established network of friends who assist one another in...
  • homeskilletA close friend; homie; homeboy.
  • homie USA close friend or fellow member of a youth gang.
  • marrow UKA friend, pal, buddy, mate.
  • matey UK
  • mucker UKFriend, acquaintance.
  • old bean UKAn old friend; an old chap or fellow.
  • pardner USA friend or companion.
  • peeps
  • shag UKFriend; mate; buddy.
  • sportA friend or acquaintance (chiefly used when speaking to the friend in question).
  • surry UKFriend.
  • tovarishComrade, especially with reference to the former USSR.
  • wantokA close comrade; a person with whom one has a strong social bond, usually based on a shared language.
  • kith obsoleteAn acquaintance or a friend.
  • punk humorous, rareAny person, especially a male comrade.

Opposite of friend

verbTo add (a person) to a list of friends on a social networking site; to officially designate...

  • defriendTo remove from one's list of friends (e.g. on a social networking website).
  • unfriend

nounAntonym(s) of.

  • enemySomeone who is hostile to, feels hatred towards, opposes the interests of, or intends injury to someone else.

nounAntonym(s) of “person with whom you are acquainted”.

  • strangerA person whom one does not know; a person who is neither a friend nor an acquaintance.

nounAntonym(s) of “person who provides assistance”.

nounMore antonyms

Meaning of friend

  1. noun A person, typically someone other than a family member, spouse or lover, whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection.
  2. noun An associate who provides assistance; patron, mentor.
  3. noun A person with whom one is vaguely or indirectly acquainted.

Full definition of friend

friend in other languages

Questions about synonyms of friend

What is another word for friend?
Friend has 59 synonyms on Word.ws, such as companion, ally, compadre and gink.
What is the opposite of friend?
The opposite of friend is enemy. Other antonyms of friend are stranger.
What does friend mean?
Friend means a person, typically someone other than a family member, spouse or lover, whose company one enjoys and towards whom one feels affection.

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: friend (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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Cite this page: “Synonyms of friend.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/friend. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.