brotherly

adjective

ˈbrə-t͟hər-lē How to pronounce brotherly (audio)
Definition of brotherlynext
as in fraternal
of, relating to, or befitting brothers the brotherly love that exists between the members of the scout troop

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 brotherly But that once sweet brotherly bond is now in tatters and has been for several years. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 6 July 2026 Ever the sports fans, Travis and Jason shared some brotherly bonding time while at game 6 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs, where the Boston Celtics played against the Philadelphia 76ers. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026 When someone was picking on Ollie recently, Dreyer was proud to overhear Calvin offering big brotherly defense. — Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 24 June 2026 Bennett’s competitive streak began with brotherly games of football and basketball, outside in the driveway and indoors on a mini-hoop. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 21 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for brotherly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brotherly
fraternal
Adjective
  • On Monday, the College Football Players Association (CFBPA)—an athlete advocacy organization—announced that a group of Stanford football players have formed the first CFBPA fraternal association.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 July 2026
  • List current memberships in civic, fraternal, legal or social organizations.
    — Schnelle Tonge, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2026
Definition of fraternal

Browse Nearby Words

brotherhoods
brotherly
brothers
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Cite this Entry

“Brotherly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brotherly. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on brotherly

Nglish: Translation of brotherly for Spanish Speakers

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