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

Relevance

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 High-deductible plans carry deductibles of at least $1,700 for individuals and $3,400 for families in 2026, according to the IRS. — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 5 Sep. 2026 Educational Freedom Accounts provide families taxpayer money to pay for private school tuition and certain homeschooling expenses. — Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2026 Down at the pools—there are two, with one dedicated just for families—Sombra cantina serves poolside favorites like chicken fingers and salads as well as Mexican dishes like ceviche and fish tacos. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026 My therapy dog and I accompanied grieving families to ground zero in the days following the attacks. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026 Massachusetts topped the list for families of four, with a comfortable living salary of $329,555. — Gabby Sartori, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 Even families tied to school calendars are increasingly taking advantage of short school breaks spread throughout the year, according to Jo-Anne Redwood, a travel adviser in southern California with Luna World Travel, which is a Virtuoso member. — Marnie Hunter, CNN Money, 5 Sep. 2026 While the sport can be expensive to get into, with high costs for coaching, equipment, and club memberships, some of the sport’s top stars have come from families without enormous fortunes. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026 The whole appeal of the Red Heart is that families could keep it for years and move their memories into a future OlloBot. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for families
  1. tribes
  2. types
  3. clans
  4. kinds
  5. houses
  6. categories
  7. people
  8. groups
Noun
  • Language requiring state agencies to secure tribal consent before building projects that might affect Indigenous spiritual practices and the ability of tribes and individual members to sue if those rights are violated.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Quannah ChasingHorse is a Han Gwich’in and Sicangu/Oglala Lakota land protector and fashion model from Eagle Village, Alaska, and the tribes of South Dakota.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of tribes
Noun
  • Prices for most types of petroleum products have gone up since the war with Iran began in late February, amid limits on how much could flow through the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Willa Rubin, NPR, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The drag system handles up to 15 pounds – enough for most types of fish in lakes and ponds.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of types
Noun
  • 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
  • Scores attach to a profile, clans compete by country, challenges travel between friends.
    — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of clans
Noun
  • Bold graphic designs of all kinds, really, are a common American trademark.
    — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ahead, rug experts explain how to clean and care for outdoor rugs of all kinds, including what to use and what to avoid to keep yours looking inviting throughout the seasons.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of kinds
Noun
  • Experimenting with narrative will continue across a number of Halloween Horror Nights houses.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • ProgCore Press is what happens when two fiercely independent creative houses decide to make some noise together.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of houses
Noun
  • In the book’s 16 central chapters, Roden wanders from central categories such as yogurt, egg dishes, breads and pickles, showing how the countries of this region prepare stunning variations of common foodstuffs.
    — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Education and health services added 45,000 to lead all categories, with the latter group being at the forefront of employment growth.
    — Jeff Cox, CNBC, 2 Sep. 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
  • The other two, one in Miami and another in Tallahassee, were both filed by various voting rights groups on the same day DeSantis signed the bill — April 1.
    — Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Investigators were combing through the area in large groups, searching the ground for possible clues.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Sep. 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 6 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All