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maternal

/məˈtɝnəl/adjective3 syllables

Maternal means: characteristic of a mother.

Synonyms for maternal9

adjective, as in characteristic of a mother

maternalistic, motherlike, motherly, matriarchal

adjective, as in related on the mother's side

enate, enatic, related

adjective, as in relating to or characteristic of or befitting a parent

parental, paternal

Opposites of maternal

paternal

What does maternal mean?4

adjective

1

characteristic of a mother“warm maternal affection for her guest”

2

related on the mother's side“my maternal grandmother”

3

relating to or characteristic of or befitting a parent“parental guidance”

4

relating to or derived from one's mother“maternal genes”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with maternal?10

three syllables

internalexternaleternalpaternalnocturnalfraternalinfernal
Show 40 near rhymes
personservicecurrentcertainversiongermancommercialpurposesurfacepurchaseurbandetermineddeterminecircleuniversalcircuitpurchasedpersonsnervousversionscouragepurpleversusworshipconversionburdencontroversialgermansurgentnursescirclessurgeonservantmerchantthermalservantsuncertaincircusjournalssuburban

Maternal in a sentence

  • Despite medical advances, ectopic pregnancy remains a significant cause of maternal mortality worldwide.Vanilla
  • The child's good health says a great deal for maternal care.unknown
  • It's my maternal uncle who buys from her.Igider
  • Some mothers need unhappy children; otherwise their maternal kindness cannot manifest.carlosalberto
  • Teen pregnancy carries a high risk of maternal mortality.rul
  • My maternal grandmother persists in wearing that old-fashioned dress.unknown
  • My maternal aunt brought me up after my parents died in a plane crash.karloelkebekio
  • His maternal grandfather was a notorious supporter of slavery.Luornu

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.