Precious (Adjective)

Meaning ¹

Characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for; "a cherished friend"; "children are precious"; "a treasured heirloom"; "so good to feel wanted".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• She held the antique locket close to her heart, it was a precious family heirloom passed down through generations.
• Her grandchildren were precious to her, and she spent hours spoiling them rotten whenever they visited.
• The newborn baby was precious to the young couple, and they marveled at every tiny detail of her features.
• He treasured the precious moments he spent with his wife before she passed away, and often found himself lost in memories of their time together.
• The children at the orphanage were precious to the volunteers, who spent countless hours providing them with love, care, and support.

Synonyms

• Wanted
• Cherished
• Treasured

Related Words

• Preciousness (noun)

Meaning ²

Of high worth or cost; "diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds are precious stones".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• The precious artifact was kept in a special glass case to protect it from damage.
• She carefully placed the precious vase on the shelf, making sure not to knock it over.
• The company's precious data was stored on a secure server to prevent hacking.
• The museum's collection of precious artwork was valued at millions of dollars.
• The hikers were searching for precious water sources in the desert to quench their thirst.

Related Words

• Preciousness (noun)

Meaning ³

Held in great esteem for admirable qualities especially of an intrinsic nature; "a valued friend"; "precious memories".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Synonyms

• Valued

Meaning ⁴

Obviously contrived to charm; "an insufferably precious performance"; "a child with intolerably cute mannerisms".

Classification

All adjective clusters.

Examples

• The actress's precious smile and batting eyelashes quickly became grating to the audience.
• The child's precious little voice and exaggerated enunciation made her sound like a caricature of a kid.
• The singer's precious, over-the-top stage antics were more annoying than entertaining.
• The boutique's precious vibe, complete with rustic decorations and artisanal treats, felt like a transparent attempt to seem "authentic".
• The blogger's precious writing style, full of cute turns of phrase and coy asides, quickly wore thin on readers.

Synonyms

• Cute

Related Words

• Preciousness (noun)
• Preciosity (noun)