WET-NURSE Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

wet-nurse

verb

ˈwet-ˌnərs

Definition of wet-nurse

as in to nurse

to give milk to from the breast wet-nursed the woman's baby until she was well enough to do it herself

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in to spoil

to treat with great or excessive care recent college grads quickly learn that employers won't wet-nurse them the way that their teachers did

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 wet-nurse With nowhere else to turn, Karoline takes on the role of a wet-nurse. — Nancy Tartaglione, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2024 In von Horn’s pic, set in post WW1 Copenhagen, the focal point is Karoline (Sonne), a young pregnant factory worker, who takes on the job of a wet-nurse for the charismatic Dagmar (Dyrholm) in order to escape poverty. — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 19 May 2024

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wet-nurse

Verb

For years, Pollock’s brother Sande had nursed him through alcoholism and breakdowns, but then Krasner stepped in.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026
In 2023, 32-year old Lauren Norris felt pain while nursing her youngest of three children.

— Roni Robbins, AJC.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of nurse

Verb

This story spoils the plot of the film Whalefall, now out in theaters, based on Daniel Kraus‘ novel.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
The Dodgers left-hander had just given up the lead on Bauers’ two-run homer, spoiling what had been a stellar start Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of spoil

Verb

The new cub's arrival marks the first time Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has had a lion birth since July 2020, when lioness Abana mothered three cubs.

— Finch Walker, USA Today, 17 June 2026
Virginia Dulles was the opposite of Louanne Bixby—even a hundred children couldn’t exhaust her need to mother them.

— Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026

Definition of mother

Browse Nearby Words

wetness

wet-nurse

wet-nursed

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Style

“Wet-nurse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wet-nurse. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of wet-nurse

verb

Example Sentences

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