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 nuclear family was Black, apparently at the insistence of the show’s young star.
—
Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2026
For many in Asia, vacations aren't just for a nuclear family, but for extended family and even large groups of friends.
—Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
However, the term dates back to the early- to mid-twentieth century, when the characteristics of a nuclear family were significantly different from today.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
In Hjorth’s recent books, these vexing others are not romantic partners but members of the narrator’s original nuclear family.
—Elaine Blair, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nuclear family
Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2026
For many in Asia, vacations aren't just for a nuclear family, but for extended family and even large groups of friends.
—Sarah Whitten, CNBC, 4 Mar. 2026
However, the term dates back to the early- to mid-twentieth century, when the characteristics of a nuclear family were significantly different from today.
—Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
In Hjorth’s recent books, these vexing others are not romantic partners but members of the narrator’s original nuclear family.
—Elaine Blair, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nuclear family
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nuclear family
Noun
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While some of the Pedro Pan children had extended family members who could take them in, others moved into orphanages run by the Catholic Church.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
15 Apr. 2026
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Enlist outside help from extended family, friends, or community members to help limit caregiver burnout.—
Sarah Bradley,
Health,
14 Apr. 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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While state or local governments can often issue tax-exempt bonds to finance large, job-creating projects, such as infrastructure construction, schooling, or healthcare, tribes cannot easily do the same.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
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Today it’s fragmented across platforms, tribes, influencers, bots, niche communities and algorithmic feeds.—
Sarah DaVanzo,
Rolling Stone,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Low-income borrowers carried auto loan debt balances that were nearly $4,000 higher, on average, than households with earnings above roughly $175,000, the organizations found.—
Annie Nova,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
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Poorer households, defined as those earning less than $40,000, cut their gas consumption by 7%, the report found, but still spent 12% more on gas in March.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Two rooms in the Soukana and Delos accommodation blocks are wheelchair accessible, and one of the two-storey Madrague houses has a ground floor bathroom and sofa bed.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 May 2026
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Businessman and real estate agent Dan Thornberg has an intriguing sales pitch for a house he’s just listed.—
Pamela McLoughlin,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Noun
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This time, the Sully clan is at war with a fiery enemy Na’vi tribe on Pandora.—
Giana Levy,
Variety,
12 May 2026
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The Cox clan would eat dinner at Adairsville’s posh Barnsley Gardens and breakfast at Patty’s, a famous truck stop.—
Mark Bradley for the AJC,
AJC.com,
9 May 2026
Noun
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When blood was found on a neighbor’s garbage can, police searched the Revere Road house but found nothing.—
Gloria Casas,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
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It also is used off-label for other kinds of ulcers and has several gynecological uses, including to induce contractions, to decrease blood loss after delivery and to treat miscarriages.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Noun
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In the next race, however, the same approach was blocked by the Italians, and Botin was forced to bail out of the start altogether.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
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One thing that bothered me in my career as a stylist was the cliché that the inspiration of the show is a certain period, and the designer did not see certain races in the casting.—
Rosemary Feitelberg,
Footwear News,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nuclear family.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nuclear%20family. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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