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

The textile mill that gave Berkshire its name was the original bad business, one Buffett nursed for 20 years before finally shutting it down. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 1 June 2026

In the final four games of the season last year, the Cowboys elected to move Smith to the left tackle spot while Guyton nursed nagging injuries with Dallas out of playoff contention. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2026

Composers from more stable lands nursed their own fears. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 18 May 2026

Somebody nursed this dingo back to health after his kangaroo encounter. — ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026

Beyond Williams’ absence, the Thunder also nursed overlapping limitations to Hartenstein (34), Caruso (25), Mitchell (24), Dort (14), Gilgeous-Alexander (13) and Joe (12). — Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026

Luke Kennard scored 23 points for Los Angeles, which nursed a small lead throughout the fourth quarter of Game 2. — CBS News, 21 Apr. 2026

On Wednesday, SeaWorld personnel released five birds and two sea lions that had been nursed back to health back into the ocean. — Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

Jordan, an energetic 2-year-old hound mix, was nursed back to health and properly trained at the shelter after he was found with a shock collar embedded into his neck over a year ago. — Amanda Rosa april 9, Miami Herald, 9 Apr. 2026