kinsmen

noun

plural of kinsman
as in cousins
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

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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 kinsmen Records of public meetings and community newspapers feature jabs at how far these sorry kinsmen have strayed from their heritage. — Eythana Miller, The Dial, 23 June 2026 But the chief’s kinsmen failed to honor his request. — Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kinsmen
  1. cousins
  2. relatives
  3. relations
Noun
  • The partnership also brings the cousins’ family histories into focus.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • According to Bilal—who had nine cousins in Nusra, six of whom were already dead—these fighters were so keen to die in battle during Ramadan, the best time to be a martyr, that Nusra had to organize a lottery of names for suicide attacks.
    — Ben Taub, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of cousins
Noun
  • Federal authorities seized Omar's phone in the search and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, a person briefed on the probe told the AP this week.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Sztylerman said his father’s side of the family had also lost relatives in the Holocaust.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of relatives
Noun
  • Smith praised Carney for improving relations with a province that frequently clashed with his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, over his carbon tax and other energy policies.
    — Rob Gillies, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The waiver also raises questions about Washington’s commitment to Ukraine as relations between the two countries deteriorate.
    — Rebecca Schneid, Time, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of relations

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Cite this Entry

“Kinsmen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kinsmen. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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