NURTURING Synonyms: 157 Similar and Opposite Words

nurturing 1 of 3

adjective

as in caring

Related Words

Relevance

nurturing

2 of 3

noun

as in teaching

Related Words

nurturing

3 of 3

verb

present participle of nurture

as in cultivating

to help the growth or development of wanted to find the art school that would best nurture his artistic talent

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in educating

to provide (someone) with moral or spiritual understanding she feels that her lifelong practice of reading the Bible daily has nurtured her in ways she cannot describe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sustaining

to supply with nourishment nurtured their children through the long winters with home-cooked soup

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 nurturing

Noun

Pickles were often prepared as offerings during religious festivals, symbolizing prosperity and the nurturing of the human spirit. — Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026 For Ash, the film is a testament not only to his own story but to the nurturing that came from the Jewish Writers Institute throughout the process, which overlapped with an increasingly fraught time for Jewish creatives. — Jackie Hajdenberg, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026 October 23 – November 21 Trust grows when it’s nurtured, and today is a great day to do some nurturing! — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 3 Mar. 2026 Scorpio October 23 – November 21 Trust grows when it’s nurtured, and today is a great day to do some nurturing! — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 3 Mar. 2026 The data don’t tell a story of youth becoming more dangerous, but of institutions withdrawing from their nurturing. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026 Chef Evelyn Stokes says anyone is capable of cooking like a professional chef at home if given the proper training in a nurturing, empowering environment. — Scott Talley, Freep.com, 4 Jan. 2026 Anything rooted in your identity — your story, your culture, your softness, your nurturing, your humor, your aesthetic, your home — becomes a business opportunity. — Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 23 Dec. 2025 His legacy, our critic writes, will be as much about his nurturing of new filmmakers as about his movies. — Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Sep. 2025

Verb

Establishing and nurturing a robust professional relationship map—comprising sponsors, mentors, allies and followers—enhances professional impact and reputation, both critical to accessing new opportunities. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Alongside his own artistic practice, Tsubaki has devoted considerable effort to nurturing the next generation of artists, including establishing ARTOTHÈQUE within the Department of Fine and Applied Arts at Kyoto University of the Arts. — The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 31 Aug. 2026 His summer project with the Boardwalk is all about nurturing diplomatic relations between the US and Italy by playing the role of approachable host on the immaculate floating mansion. — CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 There’s a pocket of peat soil in a valley near the Cedar River perfect for nurturing potatoes and onions. — Courtney Crowder, Des Moines Register, 21 Aug. 2026 Early on, while nurturing the skills that would lead him to a Cy Young Award, a World Series win and many other accolades, Hershiser had his eye on becoming a sports broadcaster as a second act for his career. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026 Partnership feels friendly as nurturing Moon lights your 7th House of Partnership, trining harmonious Venus in your 11th House of Friends and Community. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 These gems are believed to promote healing and emotional well-being, echoing the nurturing spirit of those born under earth signs. — Kelsey Stiegman, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026 What happens when a body that has become functional, public, nurturing, and exhausted refuses to relinquish complexity? — Alessia Glaviano, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nurturing

Adjective

Neal's family described him as smart, quiet, caring and not an aggressive person.

— Juliana Kim, NPR, 23 Aug. 2026
And for those who are unsure of how to start the process or where to find helpful information, community partners not only offer homeownership seminars but also have knowledgeable, caring professionals available to help.

— Patricia Mason, Hartford Courant, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of caring

Noun

Brother Govindananda, a monk with the order, said his organization sees AI simply as the next step to helping people access the late guru’s teachings through an online teaching portal — just as books did for previous generations.

— ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
John Warner, a writer and expert on the teaching of writing in the AI age, has visited universities in different parts of the country to observe how students are embracing AI.

— Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of teaching

Verb

The intervention of Allied troops on the White Russian side in the Russian Civil War deepened Bolshevik paranoia, and Bolshevik leaders concluded that hostile powers would always seek to destroy Russia by cultivating internal enemies.

— Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
According to royal insider Rob Shuter, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are very interested in cultivating a close relationship with Charles.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of cultivating

Verb

Meilunaite found a similar path forward by educating herself on midlife health, shifting her sleep and giving her body more time to recover.

— Tabitha Britt, Flow Space, 1 Sep. 2026
As one of the world’s leading manta ray research organizations, The Manta Trust is dedicated to educating and conserving habitats for these majestic creatures.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of educating

Verb

More than any position group, the Terps’ weakness right now is just sustaining success – for a full season or even a full 60 minutes in big games.

— Noah Trister, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Ariana Grande will take the stage in London tonight in comfortable footwear rather than her signature heels after sustaining a minor injury.

— Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of sustaining

Noun

That could reduce development costs and shorten the path toward manufacturing.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
Still, his unwillingness to spend on the margins — in player development, infrastructure, or even to have his radio team travel with the club — left cracks that have only grown bigger over time as the Angels’ playoff drought has gotten longer.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of development

Verb

Center City Partners is a nonprofit focused on promoting the economic and social growth of Charlotte’s core, which includes uptown, midtown and South End.

— Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
For Pope, the rally is about finding community alongside promoting voting rights.

— Matt Brown, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of promoting

Browse Nearby Words

nurtures

nurturing

nut

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Nurturing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nurturing. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of nurturing

adjective

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

apiary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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'?

Popular in Wordplay

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

Popular

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

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes