1
as in family
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor
invited all of his kith and kin to his graduation party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cousin
a person connected with another by blood or marriage
since she did not appear to be kin to either side, we've no idea what she was doing at the wedding
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kin
Aldo Toledo, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Feb. 2026
Social capital and child development Immigrant grandparents and extended kin often play an active role in children’s lives.
—Sothy Eng, The Conversation, 2 Feb. 2026
Scott Travers, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
The Oscar winners have been friends for half a century and their kin span generations.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for kin
Noun
The victim was transferred to the Monterey County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Office for identification and next-of-kin notification.
—Aldo Toledo, San Francisco Chronicle, 10 Feb. 2026
Social capital and child development Immigrant grandparents and extended kin often play an active role in children’s lives.
—Sothy Eng, The Conversation, 2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Chickens also retain a smidge of the predatory instinct that made their kin such formidable hunters.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 4 Dec. 2024
The Oscar winners have been friends for half a century and their kin span generations.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2023
See All Example Sentences for kin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kin
Noun
-
There is a priority placed on prevention and providing services to children and families within the home environment.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Unlike Superman, Kara was not raised by a loving human family or taught how to be a hero but is later forced to follow in her younger cousin's footsteps and become a hero.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Unlike Superman, Kara was not raised by a loving human family or taught how to be a hero but is later forced to follow in her younger cousin's footsteps and become a hero.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Two restaurateur cousins with family roots in Greece have opened a fast-casual, takeout-type restaurant featuring their family’s recipes and other authentic Greek fare.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The group recognized Friedmann as a kindred spirit.—
James Verini,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
-
And even a cursory internet search reveals Baryshnikov as a kindred spirit to Margarita in her passion for fashion.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some Native American tribes refer to the April full moon as the breaking ice moon, the frog moon, the sucker moon and the budding moon of plants and shrubs.—
Hali Smith
March 31,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
-
For those following news about the war on social media, this affinity network—all these different figures with their own little tribes—has been quickly replacing images of the war with commentary on it.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Survivors, relatives and Cal-OSHA raised concerns about the conditions under which workers were employed, including allegations that some were paid in cash and received little to no safety training.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Endosperm is only found in flowering plants, although a few close relatives like the nonflowering shrubby joint fir, Ephedra, have its rudiments.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As has been its wont for many years now, over its three days the festival offers a lineup that mixes folk and roots (however understood) and non-folk artists.—
Stuart Munro,
BostonGlobe.com,
19 July 2022
-
The songwriter in question is Phoebe Kreutz, darling of the New York City anti-folk movement of the early ‘00s.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
8 July 2022
Noun
-
Executioning was a hereditary métier, monopolized in Paris by the Sanson clan for nearly two centuries.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The purpose of our mountain drive this morning is to rendezvous with Fitz and the rest of the Caldwell clan and take advantage of the virgin powder now piling up around California’s Carson Pass.—
Namir Khaliq,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Orr hired Campbell away from Oregon, where the coach’s mastery in recruiting helped boost the Ducks to national prominence.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The confident bunch remains focused on its ultimate goal, winning the program's first national championship.—
Ryan Baker,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kin. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
