as in extended family
the part of a family that includes only the father, mother, and children
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Recent Examples of nuclear family
The national project of maintaining the white nuclear family, which has really been taken up in the 1940s as a way for certain political groups to organize, is able to find a lot of historical references in Minnesota that fit that narrative.
—
Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Jack and Anna are a nuclear family of four before His & Hers finally reveals the true truth.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 14 Jan. 2026
Based on Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth, the surrealist musical follows one nuclear family across thousands of years and three apocalypses.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
The nuclear family grieved privately at each milestone, joined, in time, by new members of the family, like Caroline's husband, Edwin Schlossberg, and their three children.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nuclear family
Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Jack and Anna are a nuclear family of four before His & Hers finally reveals the true truth.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 14 Jan. 2026
Based on Thornton Wilder’s The Skin of Our Teeth, the surrealist musical follows one nuclear family across thousands of years and three apocalypses.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 10 Dec. 2025
The nuclear family grieved privately at each milestone, joined, in time, by new members of the family, like Caroline's husband, Edwin Schlossberg, and their three children.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nuclear family
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nuclear family
Noun
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Her 15-year-old and 11-year-old are still in Texas, living with different extended family members.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
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Every September, lots of our extended family from across the country return to rural Georgia for the homecoming celebration to eat and to hang out, to just to be present with family.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
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In November 2021, Johnson brought his blended family together for the premiere of his film Red Notice.—
Kelsie Gibson,
Peoplemag,
8 Feb. 2023
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Dietrich, 36, is now a stay-at-home mother to her blended family of four teenagers and a 17-month-old.—
Megan Leonhardt,
Fortune,
3 Jan. 2023
Noun
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There are all these different tribes that live in the city.—
Lale Arikoglu,
Condé Nast Traveler,
8 Mar. 2026
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Prosecutors say that Mannion, who worked as an IRS contact representative in Andover from 1998 to 2009, used her membership in the Mi’kmaq Nation Native American tribe to solicit other tribe members to hire her for tax preparation services.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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India’s Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has directed oil refineries to prioritize supplying cooking gas to its 330 million households, risking operations of over 3 million businesses that use its for commercial purposes.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
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The state cut the eligibility requirement for households from 400% to 130% of the federal poverty level and eliminated insurance premium assistance.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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There’s also something nostalgic about it; the timer reminds me of baking at my grandparents’ house.—
Francesca Krempa,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
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His second outing for the house, however, which took place on Sunday, felt more measured, shifting the focus toward tailoring while still playing with sculptural silhouettes.—
Maliha Shoaib,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Carl Jackson’s clan, though, would rather be chasing invasive Burmese pythons through the heart of Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
5 Mar. 2026
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Every Catholic clan needs one silly-ass Jew (Ed) to lighten the mood.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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And magnesium can interfere with antibiotics and osteoporosis drugs, and prompt side effects with heart and blood-pressure meds.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
6 Mar. 2026
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Strength training increases blood flow to the brain, which supports cognitive performance, concentration and mental clarity.—
Fred Sassani,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Legislators craft viral moments for television and social media, sharpen partisan talking points and prepare for the next race long before the current term is finished.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
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This is the only should-win game of the week against a team well outside of the playoff race.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nuclear family.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nuclear%20family. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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