Synonyms of maternal

maternal

adjective

mə-ˈtər-nᵊl 

as in mother

of, relating to, or characteristic of a mother

her maternal instincts told her that something was wrong

Synonyms & Similar Words

• mother
• parental
• feminine
• motherly
• female
• womanly
• caring
• matronly
• nurturing
• matriarchal
• womanlike
• womanish
• giving

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of maternal

They are usually still protected by maternal antibodies, experts say. — Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026

With nowhere to put her maternal love after the loss of her son Jason, Pam Voorhees (Linda Cardellini) soon takes an interest in Grace, whose own mom appears to be abusive and neglectful. — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Tools to identify a disrupted maternal and infant gut microbiome are already being developed, but screening without a protocol for what to do next is incomplete medicine. — Holly Baines, STAT, 14 Oct. 2026

Their bond, like all maternal bonds in primates, is incredibly difficult to break. — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026