parenting 1 of 2

Definition of parentingnext
as in parenthood
the caring for a child by its parents as the big day approaches, the expectant couple are starting to get worried about their fitness for parenting

Synonyms & Similar Words

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parenting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of parent

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 parenting
Noun
May 5 The king of the comedic rant, Jerry Seinfeld, is back with plenty of ammo about the joys of parenting, husbandry and calamitous current events — three separate topics that will demonstrate just how far civilization has gone down the tubes. Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026 And that really showed up in her parenting of me. Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
However, some Gen Zers are still in middle school, so there's still a lot to learn about how this generation will tackle parenting. Brianne Hogan, Parents, 5 Apr. 2026 To watch them at times, in fact, is to watch a kid parenting a parent. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for parenting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parenting
Noun
  • My sources have shared the blissful moments of parenthood with me.
    Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Like some of her fellow costars, Amber Portwood also had difficulty navigating teen parenthood.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 26 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Walker was also experiencing a mental health issue and was shot after raising a knife.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Several early tests failed, raising questions about the program’s future.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The friends launched Vervee Scrubs, a line of maternity and flexible-sized scrubs.
    Lisa Gutierrez May 1, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
  • The bill includes a provision honoring Kira that would include training for respectful maternity care without bias.
    Amy Eskind, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • What happened after the birth has captivated more than 27 million viewers on Instagram and drawn attention to a striking example of cross-species nurturing behavior that any animal lover will want to understand.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
  • Around that time, Mildred began nurturing the young Dean’s artistic skills.
    Katie Schultz, Architectural Digest, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Suzanne O’Donnell, an accomplished regional theater actor with a lot of Shakespeare on her resume, plays Penrose as both a warm mothering figure to these two occasionally babyish men but does not downplay the character’s pragmatic side.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026
  • For almost a century, since the dawn of mass screen entertainment, society has passed through waves of panic over media’s effects on children, which have often coincided with panics over the effects of various kinds of mothering.
    Jean Garnett, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Parenting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parenting. Accessed 5 May. 2026.

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