MOTHERING Synonyms: 75 Similar and Opposite Words

mothering 1 of 2

noun

as in motherhood

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mothering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of mother

as in having

to bring forth from the womb I hope to mother at least one child

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in nursing

to attend to the needs and comforts of mothered the patients with chicken soup

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 mothering

Noun

In response to the mothering of a sister, a brother has options—resist, lash out, put up with it, become utterly dependent on it. — Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 Each statue the perfect epitome of silent, mothering, virginal womanhood that Ireland had come to worship. — Literary Hub, 8 May 2026 Yet the history of motherhood has remained largely untold, and the narrative is not often driven by the people who do the actual mothering. — Holly Corbett, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026 To make their point perfectly clear, women are sharing photos of themselves breastfeeding in front of Old Masters paintings in museums that depict the very same mothering act. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 6 July 2026 Kate had changed her hair into a stylish bob — but apparently hadn’t updated her mothering skills — two years later when, in the sequel, Kevin again was discovered missing, at the Miami airport. — Jocelyn Noveck, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026 For almost a century, since the dawn of mass screen entertainment, society has passed through waves of panic over media’s effects on children, which have often coincided with panics over the effects of various kinds of mothering. — Jean Garnett, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026 Born in Switzerland in 1924, Yo lived life on her own terms, defying expectations around sexuality, mothering, aging, and even death. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 Jan. 2026 Suzanne O’Donnell, an accomplished regional theater actor with a lot of Shakespeare on her resume, plays Penrose as both a warm mothering figure to these two occasionally babyish men but does not downplay the character’s pragmatic side. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Apr. 2026

Verb

Key strands of the film are about mothering with laser focus on the parents played by Okonedo and Mallen. — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026 Really, the album is about tiring of mothering men who are great in bed but lack crucial social skills. — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2025 Somehow mothering four children, leading a massive pop resurgence, and still making time for a fun night with her girlfriends for a glass of wine (or seven). — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 And as the following selections from the archives of The Christian Science Publishing Society show, prayer can bring out more of how God is mothering, comforting, and preserving us right here and now. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 8 May 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for mothering

Noun

Amid the German actress' hectic career, motherhood has taken center stage.

— Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Her ability to juggle tennis, businesses, motherhood, and philanthropy is a testament to the evolution of the professional female athlete.

— Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of motherhood

Verb

Swift and Kelce opted against having traditional bridesmaids and groomsmen.

— Morgan Evans, USA Today, 4 July 2026
The news came a day before Liz reported on Hong Kong’s beleaguered cinema market finally having an upturn, with overall box office revenues increasing by 25% thanks to a strong line-up of local and Hollywood releases.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 July 2026

Definition of having

Noun

Here’s a look at Anne Hathaway’s best maternity style moments over the years.

— Emily Blackwood, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
The landmark Ockenden report, led by maternity expert Donna Ockenden, found that over a 13-year period more than 500 mothers and babies died or came to harm due to inadequate care over a 13-year period in just one hospital trust.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 7 July 2026

Definition of maternity

Verb

Instead of producing energy from heat, as with the radiothermal generators found on deep-space probes like Voyager 2, the NanoTritium system generates electricity directly.

— David Szondy July 07, New Atlas, 8 July 2026
Tired of spending his days simply delighting in psychological torture and revenge, Lestat publicly chases the life of a famous rock star, writing and producing an album and performing in a cross-country tour while maintaining a fake vampire persona.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 7 July 2026

Definition of producing

Verb

The woman responsible for birthing Cristiano Ronaldo caused quite the stir in Pompano Beach on Monday.

— Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
During the siege, he got used to doing everything from birthing babies to setting broken bones and caring for geriatric patients and those with chronic diseases.

— Janine di Giovanni, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026