parental

adjective

Definition of parentalnext
as in protective

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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 parental There's no such thing as a perfect parental-child relationship. — Zachary Fletcher, USA Today, 7 July 2026 Beulah was her parental figure because Rob-Will never tells her no. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 7 July 2026 Joint teen brokerage accounts Some brokerages offer investing accounts for teens, typically with parental oversight and features designed to help young investors learn. — Liz Knueven, CNBC, 7 July 2026 Supporters of the policy counter that school choice will improve student achievement and parental control. — Kendall Deas, The Conversation, 6 July 2026 Children must get parental approval before downloading all other apps, such as Instagram, library apps, and the apps of news organizations. — Nina Totenberg, NPR, 6 July 2026 House Enrolled Act 1408 includes language clarifying parental consent for children under age 16, and age verification requirements for social media companies. — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 4 July 2026 Canadian goalkeeper Owen Goodman didn’t have birthright or parental heritage but had lived in a small town in Ontario from age 5 to 13. — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026 This plan covers up to nine devices and combines ad blocking, privacy protection, malware filtering, and parental controls into a single package. — Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 3 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parental
  1. protective
  2. supportive
  3. maternal
  4. caring
Adjective
  • For all its functional details, like the four protective feet at the base, a spacious interior, and multifunctional pockets, there are fun ones to match.
    — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 6 July 2026
  • First, the family in the West African nation of Guinea turned to a traditional healer who suggested protective amulets.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 July 2026
Definition of protective
Adjective
  • Choose calming, barrier-supportive ingredients – Soothing serums and creams can help to interrupt the inflammatory cascade, especially for those with sensitive skin.
    — Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026
  • The Cohesion 18 sneakers are outfitted with a thick, supportive sole that absorbs impact and offers stability, a rubber outsole for traction, and a sockliner to prevent friction burn and blisters.
    — Clara McMahon, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
Definition of supportive
Adjective
  • This is, Meghan O’Gieblyn argues in our June 25, 2026, issue, a distinctly parental anxiety, a primordial kind of maternal metaphor that appears over and over again in writing and interviews about AI development.
    — Meghan O’Gieblyn, The New York Review of Books, 11 July 2026
  • Beyond the all-women lineup, organizers say Daisy Chain Fields will fold in an activism component, with nonprofits on-site sharing resources on issues like reproductive rights, maternal health, economic empowerment and domestic violence prevention.
    — Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 9 July 2026
Definition of maternal
Adjective
  • Men too experience gender bias at work and may be penalized for caring behaviors, so normalizing and rewarding care work performed by men can help illustrate that care work is imperative for a healthy workplace culture for all.
    — Holly Corbett, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Bryan Marchment was known as one of the NHL’s most ferocious defensemen of his era, and was also described as a caring and compassionate father and friend away from the rink.
    — Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 1 July 2026
Definition of caring

Browse Nearby Words

parentages
parental
parented
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Parental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parental. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on parental

Nglish: Translation of parental for Spanish Speakers

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