cousin

noun

ˈkə-zən How to pronounce cousin (audio)
Definition of cousinnext
as in relative
a person connected with another by blood or marriage we both were surprised to learn that we are distant cousins

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 cousin Particularly among the people who consider GLP-1s a form of miracle drug, consumers may simply want to believe that the weight loss medicine's chemical cousins could have similar effects on other elements of human health. — Renée Onque, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026 The enduring travails of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, landed cousins of the Montauketts in eastern Long Island, are instructive. — Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026 The song came out about the same time Lewis, who was 22, married his 13-year-old cousin in 1957. — Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2026 Imagine Applebee’s had a cousin that grew up in Bel-Air and insisted on only the best ingredients. — Khushbu Shah, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cousin
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cousin
  1. relative
  2. relation
  3. family
  4. kin
  5. kinsman
Noun
  • Stanley Zydlo pleaded guilty in 1980 to paying a $1,000 bribe to have the test results altered for a Fire Department physical entrance exam taken by two relatives.
    — Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Kohen Wiley’s close relatives watched the footage shot during the June encounter in a Walmart parking lot in Senatobia, about 40 miles south of Memphis.
    — Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of relative
Noun
  • Tariffs and American relations with Canada have been top of mind in parts of the district.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • By contrast, recent restrictions or delays suggest a greater emphasis on managing relations with Beijing and avoiding unnecessary escalation.
    — Ningrong Liu, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of relation
Noun
  • Another family attempted to navigate the gate to access medical appointments.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Sanders, who spoke alongside el Sayed in Grand Rapids, said Trump’s attacks on the Democratic candidate were rooted in Islamophobia because Republicans have little to say about the issues affecting working families.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of family
Noun
  • The Canadian Armed Forces said that additional details would be confirmed after next-of-kin have been notified.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • The person — whose name has not been announced publicly pending next-of-kin notifications — was pronounced dead at the scene.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 12 Sep. 2026
Definition of kin
Noun
  • Records of public meetings and community newspapers feature jabs at how far these sorry kinsmen have strayed from their heritage.
    — Eythana Miller, The Dial, 23 June 2026
  • As Molineux passes by, Robin recognizes his kinsman and hears the cruel laughter of the mob.
    — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Definition of kinsman

Browse Nearby Words

courtyards
cousin
cousins
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cousin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cousin. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on cousin

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cousin

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All