suckling 1 of 2

noun

Definition of sucklingnext
as in infant

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suckling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of suckle
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

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 suckling
Noun
Seafood is the underrated star here—from sautéed squid to amêijoas à bulhão pato—but be sure to try the Segovian suckling pig or the 50‑day aged Mirandesa‑style ribeye, priced by weight. — Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026 In Spain, the family of King Felipe and Queen Letizia are thought to indulge in a spread including cochinillo (roasted suckling pig), roast lamb, seafood and turrón, a traditional Spanish nougat confection which includes almonds, egg whites, honey and sugar. — Hadley Hall Meares, Vanity Fair, 22 Dec. 2025
Verb
The pups have the epicurean delight of suckling one of the highest fat-content milks in the animal kingdom. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 24 Nov. 2025 Those people under him are suckling on his piggly-wiggly titties. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for suckling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for suckling
  1. infant
  2. nursing
  3. newborn
  4. foundling
  5. neonate
  6. cherub
Noun
  • The federal government will look to deport a man accused of illegally operating a boat that capsized in New York Harbor this month, killing a woman and her infant daughter.
    — Joe Kottke, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2026
  • But when a desperate woman carrying an infant appears outside his sanctuary, Parish is forced to choose between compassion and survival.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of infant
Verb
  • Quarterback Quinn Ewers, who is nursing a groin injury, missed his second straight practice….
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026
  • With Chamarri Conner nursing a knee injury, Jaden Hicks and Alohi Gilman were stationed as the top safeties.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of nursing
Noun
  • Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office intervened and raised concerns about the newborn’s need for lifesaving medical treatment after birth.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Authorities told the news outlet that Brown was a family friend to the newborn's family and took the child when his mother fell asleep.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of newborn
Noun
  • The connection between the films goes far beyond the presence of a foundling.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
  • When Heathcliff, a foundling, discovers that Cathy Earnshaw, the daughter of the impoverished Yorkshire lord who’s taken him in, has played a prank on him by putting eggs in his beds to be crushed, the boy plunges his fingers into the slippery puddle of yolk and albumen left behind.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2026
Definition of foundling
Noun
  • Males guard the eggs and newborn frogs, called neonates.
    — Ana V. Longo, The Conversation, 24 June 2026
  • There have been publications about nicotine transmission and neonates after blood transfusion.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 1 June 2026
Definition of neonate
Noun
  • Owls, bats and dragons drawn from Chinese mythology seem suspended inside transparent spheres, while cherub-like children run in circles.
    — Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • Gordon is cherub-faced, with low affect, speaks in a laconic and analytic style, and has a wry and elusive smile.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 July 2026
Definition of cherub

Browse Nearby Words

suckles
suckling
sucklings
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Cite this Entry

“Suckling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/suckling. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on suckling

Nglish: Translation of suckling for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about suckling

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