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
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 As the deck crew struggles to keep their head above water, Josh spends two days on a cochinillo, a Spanish-style suckling pig. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 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
  • That’s the percentage of infants globally who received at least one dose of the diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis vaccine last year, according to annual WHO and UNICEF estimates.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 15 July 2026
  • Kaufman has also been criticized for arguing in the past against giving infants the hepatitis B vaccine and questioning if vaccines are connected to autism and other health issues.
    — Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of infant
Verb
  • The teen has only one goal while putting 10 shots on target after coming into this World Cup still nursing a left hamstring issue.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 July 2026
  • Upon coming to America, Shirley taught herself English and began nursing school before starting out in Michigan.
    — Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
Definition of nursing
Noun
  • But when a French physician tested the formula on four newborns, all of them died within days, and the episode sparked a fierce controversy.
    — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 14 July 2026
  • The discovery of the deceased newborn was one of two shocking incidents to come out of Electric Forest this year.
    — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 14 July 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
  • In Wood’s ritzy dressing room worthy of Elizabeth Taylor, a cherub hangs overhead, while a leap of ceramic leopards prowls the lounge.
    — Zoey Goto, Architectural Digest, 6 May 2026
  • With its polished English oak paneling and ornate Louis XIV-style wrought-iron balustrades presided over by a torch-wielding bronze cherub, the opulent atrium is remembered by historians as both the main thoroughfare and architectural crown jewel of the legendary liner.
    — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 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 20 Jul. 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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