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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in suckled
to give milk to from the breast
a new mother's decision to nurse her baby
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in spoiled
to treat with great or excessive care
nursed his sprained ankle for the rest of the week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in cultivated
to help the growth or development of
her teachers did much to nurse her literary talent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nursed
Zookeepers nursed him and gave him the toy to train him to cling, an ability newborn macaques need to survive.
—
ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Plus, don't forget that other parents (including those who are currently breastfeeding and those who nursed babies in the past) can often provide a wealth of advice and support as well.
—Deborah Skolnik, Parents, 1 Mar. 2026
Arenado, who nursed a right shoulder injury in the offseason, slowly realized that relaxing can sometimes be the better part of valor.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
Matthew Tkachuk shoved Erik Cernak late in the third period of Friday’s Olympic semifinal as Tkachuk and the Americans nursed a 6-2 lead over Cernak’s Team Slovakia.
—Chris Kudialis, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2026
Many have long nursed a conspiracy that Reese’s had changed its formula, resulting in this new, worse version of their beloved candy.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Feb. 2026
Jones nursed a knee injury during training camp and was traded to the Tennessee Titans.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
There’s evidence of puppies being nursed alongside human babies in Polynesia, Melanesia, and the Americas.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
The Rams nursed a slim three-point lead when both teams headed to their respective locker rooms at the end of the second quarter.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026
ABC News, 4 Mar. 2026
Plus, don't forget that other parents (including those who are currently breastfeeding and those who nursed babies in the past) can often provide a wealth of advice and support as well.
—Deborah Skolnik, Parents, 1 Mar. 2026
Arenado, who nursed a right shoulder injury in the offseason, slowly realized that relaxing can sometimes be the better part of valor.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 25 Feb. 2026
Matthew Tkachuk shoved Erik Cernak late in the third period of Friday’s Olympic semifinal as Tkachuk and the Americans nursed a 6-2 lead over Cernak’s Team Slovakia.
—Chris Kudialis, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2026
Many have long nursed a conspiracy that Reese’s had changed its formula, resulting in this new, worse version of their beloved candy.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Feb. 2026
Jones nursed a knee injury during training camp and was traded to the Tennessee Titans.
—Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
There’s evidence of puppies being nursed alongside human babies in Polynesia, Melanesia, and the Americas.
—Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026
The Rams nursed a slim three-point lead when both teams headed to their respective locker rooms at the end of the second quarter.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nursed
Verb
-
Interest accelerated in the 1990s, when NASA scientists experimenting with using red LEDs to grow plants in space noticed that small cuts on their hands healed unusually quickly under the lights.—
Lynne Peeples,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Their serenity is about to be broken by the arrival of the new PE teacher who is haunted by his past and determined to uncover the secret of how all of the townspeople are healed weekly by the touch of a 15-year-old boy with special powers.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When the first reconciliation bill passed, Republicans had a three-seat majority.—
Lauren Green,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Charlotte had 22 treys after three quarters, but pulled all the starters in the fourth quarter and slowed down a little, finishing with 26 treys to tie an all-time team record.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
A week after an early red card spoiled Denver’s inaugural match at Bay FC, Summit FC held on against a top NWSL squad in Orlando Pride on the road, 1-all.—
Braidon Nourse,
Denver Post,
21 Mar. 2026
-
When the Blues came to Minneapolis on the first day of 2022 for the Winter Classic at Target Field, Tarasenko scored one of their five goals in the middle frame as the Missourians spoiled the frigid celebration of outdoor hockey culture in Minnesota.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The trip raised hopes among some members on the WhatsApp chain that expressions of empathy toward Palestinians will become more common at Beth El, both from the bimah and in synagogue-wide communications.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Together, the reports signal a possible escalation in the Iran -war — the fallout of which has already rattled markets and raised fears of broader supply chain disruptions and higher global prices.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
They were traced to the purchase of 11 real estate properties, 14 plots of land cultivated as vineyards and olive groves, along with artworks and financial assets in Florence and the neighboring Tuscan countryside.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
In Seoul, Kim sits down with leading figures from the K-pop world to investigate how the industry cultivated an extraordinarily devoted international following.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In terms of the other remaining survivors, Jules and Nell have been spared, despite their plans to divorce, presumably because Jules has come to believe that his wife is his true soulmate.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Acreage needs could have spared most homes.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Eight of the 78 infants receiving the Mead Johnson fortifier were treated for metabolic acidosis, compared with none of the 82 receiving the Abbott product, the article said.—
David Hilzenrath,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Wang — who speaks Italian at a B2, or upper intermediate level, and has four great-grandparents from Sicily — had already made an appointment to recognize her citizenship, so hoped she might be treated as a case in progress.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The rapper, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, has been held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center since he was arrested in September 2024.—
Daniel S. Levine,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
That means every state budget could be held hostage until the whims of a small fraction of legislators is satisfied.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nursed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nursed. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
