maternaladjective
uk/məˈtɜː.nəl/us/məˈtɝː.nəl/behaving or feeling in the way that a mother does towards her child, especially in a kind, loving way:
maternal instincts
She is very maternal towards her employees.
Compare
paternal
related to a mother's side of the family:
Her maternal grandmother (= mother's mother) is still alive.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Kind & thoughtful
- accommodating
- attentive
- avuncular
- be all heart idiom
- be big of sb idiom
- benign
- consideration
- diplomatic
- fatherly
- good-hearted
- good-natured
- goodwill
- gracious
- neighbourly
- nice
- nicely
- obliging
- open-hearted
- supportive
- well meant
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Family: relations in general
maternally
adverb uk/məˈtɜː.nəl.i/us/məˈtɝː.nəl.i/