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Showing results for maternal.
Definitions

maternal

[muh-tur-nl] / məˈtɜr nl /
ADJECTIVE
motherly
Synonyms
Antonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Tuczemskyi considers his partner a hero and is grateful for the maternal instinct that spared his family even more heartache.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Then, less than a week later, as Jessica was in her bedroom, being comforted by her maternal grandmother, Linda Gandy, her father appeared.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026

The most direct beneficiaries are maternal healthcare and fertility services.

From Barron's • Mar. 30, 2026

These kinship networks were largely organized through maternal lines, with one mitochondrial lineage dominating, pointing to a key role for women in maintaining family continuity and coordinating movement.

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

DNA from the maternal chromosome can exchange positions with DNA from the paternal chromosome—potentially generating a gene hybrid of maternal and paternal genes.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee




Vocabulary lists containing maternal