Synonyms for precious
ˈprɛʃ əspre·cious

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:2.7 / 3 votes

1. preciousadjective

   of high value or worth, or seemingly regarded as such

   There is precious little we can do.

   Synonyms:
   dear, valuable

2. preciousadjective

   contrived to be cute or charming

   Synonyms:
   saccharine, twee, syrupy

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:1.5 / 2 votes

1. precious

   Unique is alone of its kind; rare is infrequent of its kind; great poems are rare; "Paradise Lost" is unique. To say of a thing that it is rare is simply to affirm that it is now seldom found, whether previously common or not; as, a rare old book; a rare word; to call a thing scarce implies that it was at some time more plenty, as when we say food or money is scarce. A particular fruit or coin may be rare; scarce applies to demand and use, and almost always to concrete things; to speak of virtue, genius, or heroism as scarce would be somewhat ludicrous. Rare has the added sense of precious, which is sometimes, but not necessarily, blended with that above given; as, a rare gem. Extraordinary, signifying greatly beyond the ordinary, is a neutral word, capable of a high and good sense or of an invidious, opprobrious, or contemptuous signification; as, extraordinary genius; extraordinary wickedness; an extraordinary assumption of power; extraordinary antics; an extraordinary statement is incredible without overwhelming proof.

   See synonyms for GENERAL; NORMAL; USUAL.

   Synonyms:
   curious, extraordinary, incomparable, infrequent, odd, peculiar, rare, remarkable, scarce, singular, strange, uncommon, unique, unparalleled, unprecedented, unusual

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. precious

   Synonyms:
   dear, valuable, costly, cherished, treasured, beloved, estimable, of great value

   Antonyms:
   cheap, valueless, worthless, unvalued, disesteemed, unappreciated, vile

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. cherished, precious, treasured, wantedadjective

   characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for

   "a cherished friend"; "children are precious"; "a treasured heirloom"; "so good to feel wanted"

   Synonyms:
   wanted, cute, treasured, valued, cherished

   Antonyms:
   unloved, worthless, unworthy, artless

2. preciousadjective

   of high worth or cost

   "diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are precious stones"

   Synonyms:
   wanted, cute, treasured, valued, cherished

   Antonyms:
   worthless, unworthy, artless, unloved

3. valued, preciousadjective

   held in great esteem for admirable qualities especially of an intrinsic nature

   "a valued friend"; "precious memories"

   Synonyms:
   wanted, cute, treasured, valued, cherished

   Antonyms:
   unloved, worthless, artless, unworthy

4. cute, preciousadverb

   obviously contrived to charm

   "an insufferably precious performance"; "a child with intolerably cute mannerisms"

   Synonyms:
   wanted, cute, treasured, cunning, valued, cherished

   Antonyms:
   unloved, artless, worthless, unworthy

5. precious, preciouslyadverb

   extremely

   "there is precious little time left"

   Synonyms:
   preciously

   Antonyms:
   unworthy, worthless, unloved, artless

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. preciousadjective

   Synonyms:
   costly, of great price

2. preciousadjective

   Synonyms:
   very valuable, of great worth, of great value

3. preciousadjective

   Synonyms:
   dear, beloved, darling, very estimable, highly esteemed or valued

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. preciousadjective

   Synonyms:
   costly, expensive, valuable, dear, beloved, adored, idolized

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "precious":

   valuable, invaluable, cherished, -precious, expensive, prized, costly, rare, valued, treasure, treasured, prestige, priceless, worthwhile, dear

Suggested Resources

1. precious

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2. precious

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How to use precious in a sentence?

1. Corey West:

   He was perfect last night, perfect this morning. And then … it’s just precious. Life is precious.

2. Jessica Vaughan:

   It is extending the precious right and responsibility of voting, which should be available only to citizens who have pledged their allegiance to the United States of America. It extends that precious right to non-citizens who are here from other countries and it even extends the voting rights to people who are here illegally.

3. Robert Reich:

   Your most precious possession is not your financial assets. Your most precious possession is the people you have working there, and what they carry around in their heads, and their ability to work together.

4. Harry S Truman:

   Peace is precious to us. It is the way of life we strive for with all the strength and wisdom we possess. But more precious than peace are freedom and justice. We will fight, if fight we must, to keep our freedom and to prevent justice from being destroyed.

5. Washington Irving:

   An inexhaustible good nature is one of the most precious gifts of heaven, spreading itself like oil over the troubled sea of thought, and keeping the mind smooth and equable in the roughest weather.