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sweetheart

sweetheart

94 1.3
A very kind, helpful person who others like a lot
  • noun
  • /ˈswiːthɑːrt/
  • Informal
translation icon : encanto
  • I just wanted to tell you that no one has me as a sweetheart.
  • a real sweetheart
  • just a sweetheart
  • little sweetheart

While Keith flounders, America's sweethearts Zach and Jared race ahead.

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Examples

  • You're a sweetheart.

  • But she's such a sweetheart and so talented and so funny.

  • What works for you, sweetheart?

  • - She is kinda a sweetheart.

  • SHARON: I heard she was a real sweetheart.

  • He is such a sweetheart and seems to be quite a people person.

  • Sweetheart, I have to leave town for a landscaping convention.

  • The real guy is a sweetheart, big teddy bear, optimistic dreamer.

  • Mikey is the brightest boy in his fifth-grade class; Sonya is a sweetheart, so pretty.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • He is such a sweetheart; he always helps others without expecting anything in return.

Synonyms

honey
vssweetheart
  • Informal
1.0

A word you use to show love or affection to someone

is more general, used for someone liked for kindness and endearing traits
darling
vssweetheart
  • Informal
1.0

A person you love very much

is used for someone liked for kind warmth rather than intense love
love
vssweetheart
  • Informal
772 1.0

A word people use to address someone they care about, like dear

focuses on being liked for kindness and gentle character rather than deep passion
sweetie
vssweetheart
  • Informal
558 2.8

A person you love or care for very much

is used to name someone liked very much for kind, endearing behaviour
babe
vssweetheart
  • Informal
303 7.2

An attractive young person, usually a woman, described in a casual way

is more about being liked for warm kind character rather than attractiveness
dearest
vssweetheart
  • Informal
162 2.2

A person you love very much

is used for someone liked very much focusing on kindness and endearing traits
cutie
vssweetheart
  • Informal
83 3.4

A person, animal, or thing people find lovable, like a small puppy

is used for someone liked very much for kind generous or endearing traits
dear
vssweetheart
  • Informal
29 1.0

A person you love or like very much

highlights being liked for kindness and generosity rather than deep formal love
beloved
vssweetheart
19 3.4

A person who is very much loved

is a likable person noted for kindness rather than deep devotion
lovely
vssweetheart
9 1.1

A person or thing that is attractive and makes you happy

is specific to liking a person for being kind generous or endearing
sweet pea
vssweetheart
  • Baby Talk
8 3.0

A loving name adults use for a child or pet

is more general, applying to adults and focusing on liking and kindness
dearie
vssweetheart
  • Informal
6 8.1

A word used to show love or kindness to someone

is more a description of a liked person rather than just an affectionate address
lovey
vssweetheart
  • Informal
5 7.5

A gentle name used for someone you love

is broader, used for anyone liked very much beyond partners
dovey
vssweetheart
  • Informal
4 9.5

A person you love and feel close to

is less specifically romantic and can mean any liked person
honeybun
vssweetheart
  • Informal
4 5.1

A name people use to show love for a partner, child, or pet

is broader and refers to anyone liked very much for kind behaviour
deary
vssweetheart
  • UK
2 8.4

A person you love or care about, often called this name to show love

is a general term for someone liked very much rather than mainly an address
amore
vssweetheart
  • Informal
1 9.1

A person you love as a romantic partner

is broader, covering anyone liked very much not only romantic partners
honeybunch
vssweetheart
  • Informal
1 7.6

A loving name you use for someone you care about

is used for anyone liked very much not only in deeply romantic ways
ladylove
vssweetheart
  • Archaic
1 7.8

A woman who is a man's sweetheart

is gender neutral and applies to any person liked very much
sweetling
vssweetheart
  • Archaic
8.1

A loving name for someone you care about

is used for people liked very much because of their kind, endearing nature
dearling
vssweetheart
  • Archaic
9.9

A person you love and care about a lot

is more modern and commonly used to describe someone liked for kindness

Antonyms

1 2.0

Very strongly disliked or avoided by many people

1.0

Not popular with many people

Compounds

A person you dated in high school who you remember fondly

sweetheart deal
  • Literature
7 6.1

An agreement that gives one side unfair advantages because of favoritism or secret deals

A person you date and care about during college

How Likeable

gem
  • Informal
71 3.0
sweetheart
  • Informal
94 1.3

Surface Forms

sweetheart singular
sweethearts plural

Morphology

sweetheart = sweet + heart (transparent) = sweet + heart

The sense 'a kind or endearing person' is a straightforward extension of 'sweet' + 'heart' and is easy for learners to infer.

Etymology

Sweetheart (from sweet + heart) gives the picture of a person whose heart is pleasant and kind, so calling someone a 'sweetheart' praises their kindness and how much people like them.