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 maternal
Her maternal instinct duly soothed and her savior complex fulfilled, Laura is ready to give Cherry a chance.
—
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Her maternal grandparents were both nationally ranked sprinters in track.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
Access to maternal care is a big part of the problem, as the MSDH report highlights.
—Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs, Parents, 8 Sep. 2025
The new Prime Video miniseries The Girlfriend is about Laura, a well-to-do American expat living in London whose maternal instincts come out when her young-adult son Daniel starts dating Cherry, a working-class woman who’s clearly a gold digger, and possibly dangerous beyond that.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maternal
Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Her maternal grandparents were both nationally ranked sprinters in track.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
Access to maternal care is a big part of the problem, as the MSDH report highlights.
—Tabitha St. Bernard-Jacobs, Parents, 8 Sep. 2025
The new Prime Video miniseries The Girlfriend is about Laura, a well-to-do American expat living in London whose maternal instincts come out when her young-adult son Daniel starts dating Cherry, a working-class woman who’s clearly a gold digger, and possibly dangerous beyond that.
—Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for maternal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for maternal
Adjective
-
There are very obvious parental figures for all the Lost Boys, with Dame Sylvia being the matriarch and Arthur being a father figure or a fun uncle for them.—
Leia Mendoza,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
-
For apps without teen account options, try using parental controls on your child’s phone or tablet to limit body image content.—
Wendy Wisner,
Parents,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Seeing Laura’s discomfort with her, Cherry employs her feminine wiles to cause a fracture in Laura and Daniel’s connection.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Kate Middleton, Reese Witherspoon, and Joanna Gaines each have pretty distinct style — yet, this one feminine fashion detail spans all of their wardrobes.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The portrayal appears to suggest that motherly attributes are solely within the realm of being loving, caring, comforting, protective, sheltering, and so on.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
-
In that situation, some new parents might have chosen to wait and see how things progressed, but Randall's motherly instincts told her action was required.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Maternal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/maternal. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share