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which has really been taken up in the 1940s as a way for certain political groups to organize, is able to find a lot of historical references in Minnesota that fit that narrative.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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Above the detached garage, the Carriage House is described as a one-bedroom apartment with its own address, kitchen and private deck, adding options for extended family, guests, or an additional creative perch.—
David Caraccio,
Sacbee.com,
23 Mar. 2026
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In 2025, after four years of work, the process yielded a flexible house that now serves both as a hospitality space for Scribe Winery events and a guest retreat for extended family.—
Leonora Epstein,
Architectural Digest,
19 Mar. 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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Some Native American tribes refer to the April full moon as the breaking ice moon, the frog moon, the sucker moon and the budding moon of plants and shrubs.—
Hali Smith
March 31,
Idaho Statesman,
31 Mar. 2026
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For those following news about the war on social media, this affinity network—all these different figures with their own little tribes—has been quickly replacing images of the war with commentary on it.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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About 63% said higher price at the pump is causing some financial hardship in their households, the CNN survey showed, including roughly 15% who describe the situation as severe.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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That imbalance should concern every household, regardless of income or ZIP code.—
Michael Richard,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Bringing a new perspective to campus Last summer, Tamura returned to campus, moving into a house across the street from UC Health.—
Rachel Hale,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Photos of the collision show the big rig with its back end on the road and its nose down the hilly yard, just feet from the house.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Executioning was a hereditary métier, monopolized in Paris by the Sanson clan for nearly two centuries.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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The purpose of our mountain drive this morning is to rendezvous with Fitz and the rest of the Caldwell clan and take advantage of the virgin powder now piling up around California’s Carson Pass.—
Namir Khaliq,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The guys have put in blood, sweat and tears to develop a top-four defense two weeks ago.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
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Tests done after the trial, when the men were appealing their convictions, showed the stains were not blood.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Last year, New York's Zohran Mamdani won his mayoral race after appearing on Piker's stream.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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For kids there will be the Avo 500 race, Fun Zone and Best Dressed Avocado Contest.—
Linda Mcintosh,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nuclear family.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nuclear%20family. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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