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sweetheart

sweetheart

37 1.3
A very kind, helpful person who others like a lot
  • noun
  • /ˈswiːthɑːrt/
  • Informal
: 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
dear
vssweetheart
  • Informal
∞ 1.0

A person you love or like very much

highlights being liked for kindness and generosity rather than deep formal love
sweetie
vssweetheart
  • Informal
991 2.8

A person you love or care for very much

is used to name someone liked very much for kind, endearing behaviour
love
vssweetheart
  • Informal
646 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
babe
vssweetheart
  • Informal
150 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
cutie
vssweetheart
  • Informal
79 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
beloved
vssweetheart
62 3.4

A person who is very much loved

is a likable person noted for kindness rather than deep devotion
dearest
vssweetheart
  • Informal
32 2.2

A person you love very much

is used for someone liked very much focusing on kindness and endearing traits
sweet pea
vssweetheart
  • Baby Talk
25 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
21 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
18 7.5

A gentle name used for someone you love

is broader, used for anyone liked very much beyond partners
lovely
vssweetheart
17 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
deary
vssweetheart
  • UK
5 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
honeybun
vssweetheart
  • Informal
5 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
honeybunch
vssweetheart
  • Informal
2 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
amore
vssweetheart
  • Informal
2 9.1

A person you love as a romantic partner

is broader, covering anyone liked very much not only romantic partners
dovey
vssweetheart
  • Informal
1 9.5

A person you love and feel close to

is less specifically romantic and can mean any liked person
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
dearling
vssweetheart
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person you love and care about a lot

is more modern and commonly used to describe someone liked for kindness
sweetling
vssweetheart
  • Archaic
1 8.1

A loving name for someone you care about

is used for people liked very much because of their kind, endearing nature

Antonyms

19 2.0

Very strongly disliked or avoided by many people

8 1.0

Not popular with many people

Compounds

A person you dated in high school who you remember fondly

sweetheart deal
  • Literature
8 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
87 3.0
sweetheart
  • Informal
37 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.