1
as in having
to bring forth from the womb
I hope to mother at least one child
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nursing
to attend to the needs and comforts of
mothered the patients with chicken soup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in motherhood
Related 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 mothering
Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Her books were their progeny, Stein acknowledged, and without Alice’s mothering—and typing, proofreading, cooking, sewing, shopping, bookkeeping, and warding off bores—they might not have been born.
—Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
Really, the album is about tiring of mothering men who are great in bed but lack crucial social skills.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mothering
Verb
-
Martin Odegaard hobbling off the Emirates pitch for the third time in as many starts would have frustrated Mikel Arteta, but having Martin Zubimendi waiting in the wings is a luxury any manager would dream of.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Why does one hard working fan have to buy seven different versions of an album instead of just having all of the songs be on one complete album?—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Before the end of the third quarter, Jackson was out of the game, nursing a hamstring according to the broadcast, and Cooper Rush, the former Dallas Cowboys’ backup, finished the game.—
Blair Kerkhoff,
Kansas City Star,
28 Sep. 2025
-
Safety Nick Emmanwori, who's dealing with an ankle injury, is listed as doubtful, and running back Zach Charbonnet, who's nursing a foot injury, is listed as questionable.—
Anne Erickson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
On Mother’s Day 2025, Trista gushed about motherhood and her children, sharing a sweet Instagram tribute to her kids.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
28 Sep. 2025
-
My life tends to be busy—juggling motherhood, teaching, operating a small business, and keeping up with the house doesn’t leave much room to slow down.—
Jacquelyn Smith,
Parents,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Meet Nashville's new crime-fighting Clydesdale Metro Nashville mounted patrol officer Michael Douglas squeezed a three-foot-long rubber chicken, producing an increasingly louder and closer screeching sound to try and provoke a 1,700-pound Clydesdale named Ross.—
Laura L. Davis,
Nashville Tennessean,
6 Oct. 2025
-
In the time since, the Post has shed much of its former staff, some of whom have found success producing the same content on other platforms.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Wishing you a speedy recovery…sending you healing wishes and prayers!—
Charna Flam,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Behind them, the wildflowers bloom softly from the healing dirt of an earth that has never known a thing besides how to just keep going.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In rural counties, maternity wards have already closed.—
Andrew Stanton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
-
From joy to detention Just one day after Mario Monteverde left the maternity hospital in Buffalo, New York, with his wife and their premature newborn, he was detained by immigration authorities, despite holding full TPS extension approval, with his protection officially confirmed in April.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The city will start delivering new trash bins — gray instead of the old black — next week.—
Sam Schulz,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Sep. 2025
-
And Mahomes — mostly by hitting his back foot and delivering quickfire strikes — picked apart a Ravens defense that always seemed a step behind.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Kentucky passed House Bill 90 to reduce barriers for establishing freestanding birthing centers, which have been absent in the state since the 1980s.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
-
With over 27 years of experience in treating pregnant and birthing patients, here's her advice on the best ways of making sure a mom and baby both stay safe during pregnancy.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mothering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mothering. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share