parents 1 of 2

noun

plural of parent
as in mothers
a person who brings forth and raises a child The couple recently became parents for the first time. She grew up in a single parent household.

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parents

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of parent
as in raises
to bring forth and raise to maturity through care and education They expertly parent their second child using all the lessons learned from raising their first.

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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 parents
Noun
Justice Diana Kavedza Mochache said in a hearing lasting more than eight hours that in some cases children were isolated and denied food while their parents watched. — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026 With its orange boxes and quirky prints, Hermès could be seen as whimsical, but it was usually associated with uptight parents and grandparents. — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026 Achilles James Daunt was born in Sussex, in 1963, to parents whose adulthoods coincided with the international reading culture that resulted from this expansion. — Nathan Heller, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 But especially as Other Desert Cities progresses, there’s something queasy about how maimed her life has been, not by her parents but by her playwright. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2026 For wellness-minded readers, veterans and the parents of young athletes, how testosterone works has become more than a locker-room topic. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026 The hotel has an age minimum of 16, making this a great retreat for harried parents. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Oct. 2026 Fourteen sheriff’s office deputies flanked the courtroom and filled in the spaces between Collins’ family and the defendants’ parents while a clerk read the verdict aloud. — Charlotte Observer, 13 Oct. 2026 Goldfish centers on a 17-year-old high school senior who presents as detached, ironic and emotionally armored, but underneath is quietly paralyzed by fear of failure, abandonment and becoming his parents. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Verb
The influence on how each generation parents their children is striking as well. — Sari Hitchins, Parents, 11 June 2026 Looking ahead, the pair plan to relocate to Florida, though Andrew will split his time between the Sunshine State and Baltimore as he co-parents his two daughters. — Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 2 Apr. 2026 Fellow plaintiff parents Brandy Roberts and Joann Bogard also snagged seats and joined Rodriguez in the back row of the courtroom to watch Zuckerberg’s testimony. — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 18 Feb. 2026 Waukesha School District parents Joe Burke and Sean Shurbet have questioned the district's enrollment data, saying the City of Waukesha's data shows current and projected growth that contradicts district data. — Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 15 Aug. 2025 That seems like an eternity ago to Cane babies born that year and perhaps now parents themselves. — Greg Cote Miami Herald, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parents
  1. mothers
  2. raises
  3. moms
  4. nurtures
  5. nurses
  6. fosters
Noun
  • These women — cradle Catholics and converts, former nuns, teachers, hospice chaplains, counselors, spouses, mothers, grandmothers — say their defiance is the fulfillment of a vocation, no different than the call answered by their male counterparts.
    — Jonathan Bullington, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Near the end of the series, there’s one sweet moment of coming together between Evi’s and Vanessa’s mothers and another moment of seemingly genuine outreach by one of the town’s conservatives to King.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of mothers
Verb
  • Ohio polling raises questions Advertisement As polling consistently shows an advantage for Acton, Republicans are increasingly arguing that the polls may be wrong by just enough to give Ramaswamy the win.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The biggest names in movies, music, fashion and beyond pulled out their sartorial best for the annual fundraiser that celebrates cinematic achievement and raises money for the museum.
    — Brittany Talarico, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of raises
Noun
  • Roseland employees said closing the labor and delivery department will threaten the health of moms-to-be and deepen existing disparities in access for Black women.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The San Francisco Bay Area was the second worst place for single moms to live, while San Jose ranked fourth from the bottom of the list.
    — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of moms
Verb
  • The result is a shoe for everyone who nurtures, Saucony noted.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Additionally, an irrigation system that uses recycled water nurtures the lush tropical landscape.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of nurtures
Verb
  • At the family estate, Sybylla, who nurses inchoate hopes of becoming a writer, is to be remade into a suitable wife.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Ultimately, Etna’s closest bond is with the itinerant medic Hong who nurses his emaciated, shrapnel-scarred body.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of nurses
Verb
  • Looking at differences using a balanced frame communicates positive intent, fosters deeper trust and builds engagement.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • With the help of literature and creative writing, the nonprofit fosters a space for connection, self-expression and imagining a life beyond incarceration.
    — Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of fosters

Browse Nearby Words

parenting
parents
pares
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Cite this Entry

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

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