parental

adjective

Definition of parentalnext
as in protective

Related 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 parental The researchers did not assess parenting quality or childrenâs health, and the findings do not establish that parental cannabis use causes adverse child outcomes. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026 Oster suggested states should consider tax credits to entice employers to offer parental leave, and should try to increase public awareness of her survey’s results, especially among small businesses. — David Lim, semafor.com, 22 Oct. 2026 In a separate case, the justices will examine whether parents have the right to challenge a state law that allows runaway teens to receive gender-affirming care without parental consent. — Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026 But those temporary flares of frustration sit within a wider circle of parental care. — Casper Ter Kuile, Vox, 21 Oct. 2026 Track promotions, raises and key assignments by work pattern, gender and parental status. — Gleb Tsipursky, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026 Without detecting anything was amiss, OpenAI was preparing to grant Alfozan parental leave. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026 The definition further added that neglect should involve blatant disregard of parental responsibilities resulting in a real, significant and imminent risk of harm to the child. — Jennifer L. Brinkley, The Conversation, 19 Oct. 2026 This paid parental leave proposal is in the hands of the 15-member county council. — Meghan Schiller, CBS News, 19 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parental
  1. protective
  2. supportive
  3. maternal
  4. caring
Adjective
  • Potential equipment includes protective vests and goggles for working dogs.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Meta also uses a protective system called Sentinel to control certain actions involving outside services.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of protective
Adjective
  • The Snow’s pressure-relieving foam combined with supportive springs results in a bed that’s comfortable, but not plush to a fault.
    — Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The nuns modeled how to create a sustaining, supportive community.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of supportive
Adjective
  • All but one mainstream newspaper have criticized the revisions, and media surveys show a large majority of the public support female monarchs or maternal-line succession.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Kendall and Kylie are so much younger that Kim has almost maternal pride in them.
    — Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of maternal
Adjective
  • The brothers are looking for a caring and supportive family that can provide a safe, stable and consistent home.
    — The Star, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Weird things happen in three or four games throughout the regular season all the time, without anyone noticing or caring.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of caring

Browse Nearby Words

parentages
parental
parented
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Parental.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parental. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
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 milieu

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