avuncular

adjective

avun·cu·lar ə-ˈvəŋ-kyə-lər

: suggestive of an uncle especially in kindliness or geniality

avuncular indulgence

Jovial and avuncular, the President's chief of staff seems oblivious to the pressures that accompany what is arguably the second most powerful job in the land.—

Craig Unger

: of or relating to an uncle

Two weeks of poker had led to his writing to his uncle a distressed, but confident, request for more funds; and the avuncular foot had come down with a joyous bang.—

P. G. Wodehouse

avuncularity

ə-ˌvəŋ-kyə-ˈla-rə-tē

-ˈler-ə-

noun

avuncularly

ə-ˈvəŋ-kyə-lər-lē

adverb

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The Origin of Avuncular Is Familial

Not all uncles are likeable fellows (Hamlet's villainous Uncle Claudius, for example, isn't exactly Mr. Nice Guy in Shakespeare's tragedy), but avuncular reveals that, as a group, uncles are often seen as friendly and kindhearted. Avuncular comes from the Latin noun avunculus, which means "maternal uncle," but since at least the 19th century English speakers have used avuncular to describe uncles from either side of the family, or people who are uncle-like in character or behavior. Avunculus is also an ancestor of the word uncle itself.

Examples of avuncular in a Sentence

a man known for his avuncular charm

Recent Examples on the Web Although many rock critics of his era earned a reputation as crusty, Morse was anything but, and after his death, friends, fellow writers, musicians and publicists spoke of his helpful and avuncular nature. —

Chris Willman, Variety, 29 Oct. 2024 Thierry Frémaux, who runs the Cannes Film Festival and the Lumière Institute—where this impromptu ceremony unfolded last month—clasped her in an avuncular embrace. —

Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2024 Walz is all avuncular, with his can-I-help-shovel-your-walk approachability and good cheer. —

Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2024 Besides playing an avuncular Lucifer on his 30-year-old concept album, Newman performed the role live just once, at a 2014 concert production put on by Encores at City Center in New York. —

Chris Willman, Variety, 28 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for avuncular

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'avuncular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.