as in cousin
a person connected with another by blood or marriage
to protect the family honor, he sought to revenge the murder of his kinsman
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 kinsman
But the chief’s kinsmen failed to honor his request.
—
Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Compared to Joshua Thompson and his kinsmen, the McAlberts of Canton were mere liegemen in the local hackerama.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Our family grew—from the three siblings left in the wake of our mother’s death—to a bustling bunch of kinsmen redeemers.
—James T. Farmer, Southern Living, 8 July 2025
Rediscovering his family’s ancestral land centuries after the religious wars forced those kinsmen to flee, our caballero soon steps in to protect a local clan from an oppressive landowner and his abusive henchmen.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 20 Sep. 2024
At the time of President Lincoln's assassination, my father was in Washington visiting his kinsman, Col. Thomas M. Vincent, who was on the staff of the Adjutant General.
—Chris Ciaccia, Fox News, 3 Sep. 2020
Women were rewarded for refusing to shelter men, including kinsmen, who were involved in the genocide, and for testifying against their rapists.
—Rania Abouzeid, National Geographic, 15 Oct. 2019
Their kinsmen, already in the United States, have been vital factors in farm and workshop for generations.
—Lily Rothman, Time, 20 June 2018
Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Compared to Joshua Thompson and his kinsmen, the McAlberts of Canton were mere liegemen in the local hackerama.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Our family grew—from the three siblings left in the wake of our mother’s death—to a bustling bunch of kinsmen redeemers.
—James T. Farmer, Southern Living, 8 July 2025
Rediscovering his family’s ancestral land centuries after the religious wars forced those kinsmen to flee, our caballero soon steps in to protect a local clan from an oppressive landowner and his abusive henchmen.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 20 Sep. 2024
At the time of President Lincoln's assassination, my father was in Washington visiting his kinsman, Col. Thomas M. Vincent, who was on the staff of the Adjutant General.
—Chris Ciaccia, Fox News, 3 Sep. 2020
Women were rewarded for refusing to shelter men, including kinsmen, who were involved in the genocide, and for testifying against their rapists.
—Rania Abouzeid, National Geographic, 15 Oct. 2019
Their kinsmen, already in the United States, have been vital factors in farm and workshop for generations.
—Lily Rothman, Time, 20 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kinsman
Noun
-
Newsom reports making millions of dollars from his hospitality business, whose assets are held in a blind trust run by his sister and cousin that he has been barred from accessing since entering office in 2019.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
19 May 2026
-
One drink opened the chest, two turned fear into courage’s cheap cousin, three steadied the hand enough to write the future in invisible ink.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
He had been charged with attempting to kill three other relatives in 1979 to collect a family inheritance but had never been tried.—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
-
Because our team travels so much, both parents—or other relatives—can’t always attend.—
Chris Murphy,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Kinsman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kinsman. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
