Definition of fraternalnext
as in familial
of, relating to, or befitting brothers there was a fraternal bond between the two boys all throughout their school years

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 fraternal In fact, Pittsburgh’s Black community boasted a symphony orchestra, a mandolin string quartet, an orphanage, and a long list of literary societies and fraternal organizations. Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025 The brand’s name means fraternal, or non-identical, twins, which contributes to its mismatched design philosophy. Riley Jones, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025 Throughout the movie, Strong exudes this fraternal bond on screen in small, intimate ways, exhibiting the grace that Landau had for Springsteen when the artist needed it the most. Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 24 Oct. 2025 Into the fray swings their neighbor and perpetual mediator, Sha — but the young girl, a confidante to them both, can only hold the fraternal chaos at bay for so long. Ben Croll, Variety, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fraternal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fraternal
Adjective
  • Periodically keeping tabs on them is a familial imperative.
    Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
  • For Sam Neill, one of the original leads of Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park films, the latest franchise entry, Jurassic World Rebirth, feels familial.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • It's built such a brotherly love and bond between those two.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
  • Some were brotherly, like with Carl Reiner and Gene Wilder.
    Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fraternal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fraternal. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on fraternal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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