as in nursing
to give milk to from the breast
the image of a mother suckling her babe is a standard artistic symbol of maternal love and nurturing
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in infant
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of suckling
Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 11 July 2024
On the menu are ham croquettes, Segovian-style suckling-pig empanadas, seafood fritters, octopus and filet mignon.
—Darla Guillen Gilthorpe, Houston Chronicle, 22 Apr. 2020
Dishes like fatty ox tartare topped with white truffle shavings and wisps of blue cheese, slow-roasted suckling pig dotted with creme fraiche, and aromatic black rice infused with squid brought the bold flavors of Spain into sharp focus.
—Amy Tara Koch, chicagotribune.com, 6 Dec. 2019
Case in point: soppable escabeche like abuela used to make, and a peerless rendition of Castilian roast suckling pig that defies physics with its weightless, so-crisp-it-shatters skin.
—Benjamin Kemper, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2020
See All Example Sentences for suckling
Verb
Prices: Dinner appetizers $18 to $32, main courses $28 to $78, large-format dishes $170 to $600 (for whole suckling pig).
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 11 July 2024
On the menu are ham croquettes, Segovian-style suckling-pig empanadas, seafood fritters, octopus and filet mignon.
—Darla Guillen Gilthorpe, Houston Chronicle, 22 Apr. 2020
Dishes like fatty ox tartare topped with white truffle shavings and wisps of blue cheese, slow-roasted suckling pig dotted with creme fraiche, and aromatic black rice infused with squid brought the bold flavors of Spain into sharp focus.
—Amy Tara Koch, chicagotribune.com, 6 Dec. 2019
Case in point: soppable escabeche like abuela used to make, and a peerless rendition of Castilian roast suckling pig that defies physics with its weightless, so-crisp-it-shatters skin.
—Benjamin Kemper, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2020
See All Example Sentences for suckling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suckling
Noun
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The show is part of the library’s Little Listeners outdoor concert series designed for infants through 6-year-olds.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
18 June 2025
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Phthalates, forever chemicals, flame retardants, bisphenols, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives and certain pesticides are some of the culprits, but there are thousands in use that have never been carefully evaluated for their health effects, especially on infants and children.—
Will Stone,
NPR,
18 June 2025
Noun
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During delivery, the newborn’s head became stuck in the vaginal canal in a complicated medical event known as shoulder dystocia, according to Taylor and Ross’ lawsuit against St. Julian and Southern Regional Medical Center.—
Julia Marnin,
Miami Herald,
20 June 2025
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But their most dangerous run-in occurs when Isla helps a pregnant infected give birth to a—surprise—non-infected baby girl and the newborn's father, an Alpha referred to as Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry), shows up to claim her.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
20 June 2025
Noun
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There were grim meetings with every male foundling who landed on the streets or showed up at city hospitals.—
Mara Bovsun,
New York Daily News,
3 May 2025
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But Mufasa's welcome is no kinder than the reception Dickens doled out to the foundlings scattered throughout his novels.—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
20 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The warmer climate may also be beneficial for baby whales—called neonates—with poor temperature regulation.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
20 May 2025
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Whale shark neonates, like other shark species, do not receive any parental care after birth.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Related Articles Cardi accessorized with bold statement, cherub ribbon earrings by Phoebe Hyles, crafted for Nicol & Ford’s fall 2024 collection.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
9 June 2025
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In the early nineties, Pavement looked like a funny paradox, a crew of cherubs in collared shirts backed by Young, a long-haired, often shirtless showman pounding his drums.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Suckling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suckling. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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