Definition of maternalnext
as in mother
of, relating to, or characteristic of a mother her maternal instincts told her that something was wrong

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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 maternal In Norway, a country with a similar per capita income to the US, the rate of maternal mortality is 1 death per 100,000 live births. Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 10 Jan. 2026 The United States is an outlier among high-income nations in its rate of maternal deaths, and numbers for Black women are particularly abysmal. Bracey Harris, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026 In 2023, there were 281 infant hospital admissions related to maternal alcohol and drug use. Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 4 Jan. 2026 The Juniper Tree’s protagonist carries on in the face of maternal abuse, a scandalous out-of-wedlock pregnancy, and a series of calamitous events that expose the dark underside of domesticity. Sara Krolewski, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for maternal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maternal
Adjective
  • If Georgia is serious about strengthening public education, updating and fully funding QBE must go hand in hand with investments that intentionally support and incentivize parental involvement.
    Verdaillia Turner, AJC.com, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Herrera’s parental rights were terminated in 2021, less than a year after Michigan raised its cutoff levels for cocaine in saliva.
    Lucas Waldron, ProPublica, 6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • For men, engaging with cosmetic surgery or tweakments to enhance appearance was, until recently, perceived as a largely feminine endeavor.
    Hikmat Mohammed, Vogue, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Style them with dainty socks or sheer tights for a feminine, fashion-forward look, or keep things simple with clean, white ankle socks, denim, or an easy day dress.
    Nina Derwin, Glamour, 8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • For a cuisine with lots of steps, this tip felt like a radical shortcut, given with motherly permission.
    Bon Appétit Test Kitchen, Bon Appetit Magazine, 22 Dec. 2025
  • For six years, in more than 200 episodes, Lockhart dispensed motherly wisdom to young Timmy (Jon Provost), who would engage in less-than-proper behavior or find himself in danger (but never, as the trope suggested, fallen down a well), only to be rescued by his faithful collie.
    David Morgan, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Maternal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maternal. Accessed 16 Jan. 2026.

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