Synonyms of nursed

nursed

verb

past tense of nurse

1

as in healed

to attend to the needs and comforts of

willingly lent a hand to nurse his grandmother in her final years, helping her get from one room to the other and making sure she was warm

Synonyms & Similar Words

• healed
• treated
• mothered
• administered (to)
• ministered (to)
• looked after
• saw to
• aided
• supported
• looked to
• waited on
• did for
• cured
• cared (for)
• looked out for
• preserved
• took care of
• spoiled
• remedied
• conserved
• doctored
• provided (for)
• coddled
• pampered
• babied
• indulged
• humored
• catered (to)
• mollycoddled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignored
• neglected
• forgot
• overlooked
• slighted
• brushed (aside or off)

2

as in suckled

to give milk to from the breast

a new mother's decision to nurse her baby

Synonyms & Similar Words

• suckled
• breast-fed
• bottle-fed
• wet-nursed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weaned

3

as in had

to keep in one's mind or heart

he continues to nurse a tender affection for his first girlfriend

Synonyms & Similar Words

• had
• held
• retained
• harbored
• cherished
• entertained
• bore
• cultivated
• maintained
• kept
• fostered
• remembered
• nurtured
• carried
• hugged
• sustained
• held on to
• preserved
• hung on to
• treasured
• supported
• stuck (to)
• clung (to)
• cleaved (to)
• brooded (about or over)
• obsessed (about or over)
• fixated (on or upon)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignored
• dropped
• neglected
• denied
• refused
• disregarded
• forgot
• rejected
• overlooked
• declined
• abandoned
• repudiated
• scorned
• discarded
• deserted
• renounced
• quit
• disdained
• gave up
• abjured
• parted (with)
• erased
• forsook
• threw out
• expunged

4

as in spoiled

to treat with great or excessive care

nursed his sprained ankle for the rest of the week

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spoiled
• indulged
• babied
• dandled
• mothered
• pampered
• coddled
• pleased
• cosseted
• appeased
• satisfied
• mollycoddled
• cockered
• wet-nursed
• delighted
• humored
• catered (to)
• contented
• soothed
• obliged
• placated
• gratified
• gladdened
• mollified
• pacified

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abused
• controlled
• mistreated
• restrained
• misused
• disciplined
• oppressed
• maltreated
• neglected
• manhandled
• ill-treated
• mishandled
• violated
• injured
• hurt
• ill-used
• molested
• overlooked
• slighted
• tortured
• tormented
• harmed
• harassed
• outraged
• victimized
• persecuted

5

as in raised

to bring to maturity through care and education

as foster parents they accepted and nursed 16 needy children over the years

Synonyms & Similar Words

• raised
• fostered
• nurtured
• bred
• reared
• fed
• taught
• nourished
• watched
• brought up
• promoted
• educated
• cultivated
• fathered
• cradled
• attended
• mothered
• trained
• instructed
• supplied
• schooled
• provided (for)
• disciplined
• led
• enlightened
• prepared
• tutored
• mentored
• ministered (to)
• forwarded
• guided
• cared (for)
• showed
• indoctrinated
• edified
• furthered
• directed
• shepherded
• minded
• advanced

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abused
• mistreated
• ignored
• maltreated
• neglected
• mishandled
• injured
• hurt
• ill-treated
• harmed
• ill-used

6

as in cultivated

to help the growth or development of

her teachers did much to nurse her literary talent

Synonyms & Similar Words

• cultivated
• encouraged
• promoted
• nurtured
• fostered
• nourished
• incubated
• forwarded
• furthered
• advanced
• advocated
• assisted
• championed
• supported
• endorsed
• financed
• funded
• backed
• aided
• upheld
• patronized
• staked
• endowed
• subsidized
• worked (for)
• advertised
• abetted
• publicized
• plugged
• boosted
• touted
• underwrote
• agitated (for)
• campaigned (for)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• prevented
• hindered
• discouraged
• frustrated
• inhibited
• fought
• opposed
• prohibited
• barred
• forbade
• enjoined
• proscribed
• outlawed
• countered
• banned
• battled
• suppressed
• contended (with)
• checked
• repressed
• arrested
• stifled
• subdued
• halted
• combated
• retarded
• interdicted
• interfered (with)
• hobbled
• impeded
• squashed
• obstructed
• encumbered
• squelched
• snuffed (out)
• shackled
• fettered
• manacled

7

as in spared

to use or give out in stingy amounts

he carefully nursed his energy during the marathon so that he would have something left for the final stretch

Synonyms & Similar Words

• spared
• preserved
• conserved
• scanted
• skimped (on)
• doled out
• stinted (on)
• meted (out)
• shortchanged
• rationed (out)
• pinched
• portioned (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• poured
• showered
• rained
• heaped
• lavished

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of nursed

For years, Pollock’s brother Sande had nursed him through alcoholism and breakdowns, but then Krasner stepped in. — Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026

Dean Fryer, the restaurant’s namesake, nursed a pint outside while chatting with creative director Nicholas Blechman. — Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

Plastic water bottles pile up at shrines to Difunta Correa, who legend says miraculously nursed her infant son after dying of thirst in the desert. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Eli wore skateboard shoes and nursed a giant bottle of Diet Mountain Dew. — Harvard Business Review, 3 Sep. 2026

Scott had similarly worked with Flynn and Colman before, as well as Billie Piper, who’s magnetic as the famed casting director Patsy Pollack, who nursed Charleson in his last days. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026

Glasnow nursed an elbow issue when the Dodgers arrived in Atlanta two Septembers ago, hoping the pitcher would check a final box before returning to a big-league game. — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026

DeMarvion Overshown has handled the bulk of the responsibilities during training camp, while rookie Jaishawn Barham received the green dot while Overshown nursed a sore lower body on Tuesday. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Aug. 2026

There were doubts and questions about whether they could be nursed back to health. — J.d. Miles, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026