families

noun

plural of family
1
as in tribes
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor the Adams family made remarkable contributions to American life for more than two centuries

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in types
one of the units into which a whole is divided on the basis of a common characteristic the flute, the clarinet, the oboe, and other members of the woodwind family

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 families Both have become tools for wealthy families seeking easier travel or a fallback if political and economic conditions worsen at home. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026 At least six families said health workers visited only after a child had died from measles in their community. — Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026 But for some families, snapshots in their minds from that morning will carry a devastating, final memory of a child who never came home. — Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 The families of 11 deceased workers alleged that exposure to asbestos, diesel exhaust, benzene and other hazardous substances contributed to their deaths. — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Standard rooms might be a tight squeeze for groups of three or more, but everything from a junior suite and up can accommodate families well. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026 Wyandotte County has long tried to expand its services for its residents who are homeless, including families. — Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026 Whiting worries the rising cost of living is pricing many, including young families, out of South Florida. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026 The Chicago archdiocese recognized Rubey’s work this year by dedicating in his honor a memorial to the lives lost to suicide and their surviving families. — Luis Andres Henao, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for families
  1. tribes
  2. types
  3. clans
  4. kinds
  5. houses
  6. categories
  7. people
  8. groups
Noun
  • Some environmental groups agree tribes should have a greater say, yet support the project because it’s pitched as a major cleanup effort.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Native American tribes say the approximately 520-acre site in Virginia is sacred.
    — Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of tribes
Noun
  • The Justice Department has charged about 90 people for various types of election misconduct so far this year, including 50 who are said to have voted as noncitizens.
    — SAFIYAH RIDDLE, Arkansas Online, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Although lung cancer is generally considered a disease among people who are older, lung adenocarcinoma is more likely to occur in younger people than other types of lung cancer.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of types
Noun
  • Ali Mahmoud Ali, the group's Sudan analyst, said that the latest clashes risk bringing in more Nuba clans into the fight and could increase divisions across South Kordofan, where communities are facing an already dire humanitarian situation.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • All Palestinian clans and families in Gaza would also be a target for disarmament, which would have an impact on the future of Hamas and Palestinian armed struggle.
    — Mkhaimar Abusada, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of clans
Noun
  • Avoid giving younger children hard candies such as Jolly Ranchers or other kinds that can’t be chewed easily.
    — Lina Ruiz October 9, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
  • At The Baobab House one recent afternoon, entrepreneurs, aid workers, and artists of all kinds are mingling in Arabic and English.
    — Patricia Huon, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of kinds
Noun
  • There’s nothing more calming than watching people try to redo their houses into the home of their dreams.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The man in question was Jean-Louis Dumas, then the chief executive of Hermès, and the sixth generation of family leadership in the most vaunted of French luxury houses.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of houses
Noun
  • These figures apply to different target categories; the company has not provided equivalent range figures for every threat listed.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The district scored grades between a B- and B+ in all remaining categories.
    — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of categories
Noun
  • Another 13 people were wounded on downtown Sacramento’s K Street and 10th Street, in what became the deadliest mass shooting in the city’s history.
    — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 19 June 2026
  • Organizers say more than 125,000 people are expected throughout the event, bringing in millions of dollars for the local economy.
    — Ryan Hughes, CBS News, 19 June 2026
Definition of people
Noun
  • Already, two bipartisan groups of senators have pushed back on the decision, including seven Republicans.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Neither the firm nor the two groups responded to questions about her tenure and background.
    — Jill Colvin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of groups

Browse Nearby Words

familiar spirits
families
family
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Families.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/families. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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