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Recent Examples of motherly
Shlesinger balances the drama and comedy of the film, while Mullally provides constant laughs with her Southern drawl and absurd motherly criticisms of her daughter.
—
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
That idea comes across in an especially poignant scene in season 5, volume 2, when Robin has a very motherly talk with Will about coming out.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 8 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for motherly
Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
That idea comes across in an especially poignant scene in season 5, volume 2, when Robin has a very motherly talk with Will about coming out.
—Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 8 Jan. 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for motherly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for motherly
maternal
Adjective
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Azaria also noted that his maternal grandmother, Esther, inspired his character.—
Marina Watts,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
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The two become a secret couple, and in a funny way this movie about the transcendence of the maternal bond turns on Ledger’s evolving emotions — his realization that Kenna is a good woman, and that blaming her for Scotty’s death was shortsighted and too vengeful.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Motherly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/motherly. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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