kissing cousin
noun
1
: one that is closely related in kind to something else
2
: a person and especially a relative whom one knows well enough to kiss more or less formally upon meeting
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Morning glory is easy to grow from seeds in most soils and is a kissing cousin to field bindweed, one of the weed vines for later discussion. 
Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 9 Aug. 2021 The nut is technically a seed, a kissing cousin to the cashew, and oddly, the mango. Dallas News, 23 Mar. 2021 Rethink Overalls Get over your jumpsuit by flirting with its kissing cousin, the overall. Vogue, 28 Mar. 2019 After weeks of teasers that started with kissing cousins and ended with the news that Ari's former Victorious costar would be in the video, the full, entire thing is here for our viewing pleasure (with tons of outfit inspiration to go around, BTW). Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, 30 Nov. 2018 McConnell is pushing for this legislative change to remove a barrier inhibiting the versatile plant some call marijuana's kissing cousin. Beth Warren, The Courier-Journal, 1 May 2018 The organizers walked a razor's edge with scheduling, especially between the Flora and Fauna stages, which were kissing cousins a few hundred yards from each other. Andrew Dansby, Houston Chronicle, 26 Mar. 2018 See More
Howard Garrett, Dallas News, 9 Aug. 2021 The nut is technically a seed, a kissing cousin to the cashew, and oddly, the mango. Dallas News, 23 Mar. 2021 Rethink Overalls Get over your jumpsuit by flirting with its kissing cousin, the overall. Vogue, 28 Mar. 2019 After weeks of teasers that started with kissing cousins and ended with the news that Ari's former Victorious costar would be in the video, the full, entire thing is here for our viewing pleasure (with tons of outfit inspiration to go around, BTW). Lauren Rearick, Teen Vogue, 30 Nov. 2018 McConnell is pushing for this legislative change to remove a barrier inhibiting the versatile plant some call marijuana's kissing cousin. Beth Warren, The Courier-Journal, 1 May 2018 The organizers walked a razor's edge with scheduling, especially between the Flora and Fauna stages, which were kissing cousins a few hundred yards from each other. Andrew Dansby, Houston Chronicle, 26 Mar. 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
1941, in the meaning defined at sense 2
kissing cousin
noun
as in stock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- stock
- cousin
- race
- family
- house
- blood
- lineage
- people
- kinsman
- tribe
- relative
- relation
- clan
- folk
- kindred
- line
- kinsfolk
- kinfolk
- kin
- kinfolks
- in-law
- kinswoman
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- nonrelative