as in household
of or relating to a household or family
it's a familial duty as well as a tradition for everyone in my family to eat dinner together
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 familial
The dialogue and performances work hand-in-hand to impart a pronounced familial rapport.
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 May 2026
The film addresses complicated familial bonds and his mother’s experience caring for others.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
The shows tackle stories about murder, deceit, grief, familial estrangement, presidential assassinations, and complex mental health diagnoses — and all have found captive audiences on the streamer over the last year.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Membership in a hijra community is not through kinship, as in the case of caste, but typically achieved later in life by choice or resulting from familial pressures.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for familial
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 May 2026
The film addresses complicated familial bonds and his mother’s experience caring for others.
—Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
The shows tackle stories about murder, deceit, grief, familial estrangement, presidential assassinations, and complex mental health diagnoses — and all have found captive audiences on the streamer over the last year.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 28 May 2026
Membership in a hijra community is not through kinship, as in the case of caste, but typically achieved later in life by choice or resulting from familial pressures.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for familial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for familial
Adjective
-
Poinsettias, with their vibrant red leaves, are often the star of household Christmas decorations.—
Elliott Harrell,
Southern Living,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Starting October 1st, the brand is ending its Prime Invitee Program, which previously allowed non-household members to enjoy benefits like free shipping.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Four of the six victims killed this week in a shooting spree across a small city in eastern Iowa in an apparent domestic dispute were students and employees at a local school district, authorities said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
-
The combined entity is the largest domestic producer of sustainable sturgeon caviar in the United States.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Familial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/familial. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
