Family Dynamics Vocabulary

noun a petty argument or quarrel

verb to argue or quarrel over petty matters

• The colleagues continued to bicker over the details of the project during the meeting.
• My siblings always bicker about who gets to sit in the front seat of the car.
• I can't stand listening to those two bicker back and forth all the time.
• The sun and the moon seemed to bicker over who would light up the sky each night.

adjective describing someone who does not have any children

• The couple remained childless despite several attempts at fertility treatments.
• My aunt and uncle are childless, but they spoil their nieces and nephews rotten.
• Some people just don't want kids and that's cool - they're living that childless life.
• The barren land seemed childless, devoid of any signs of life.

noun disagreement or conflict within a group, typically a political one

• The dissension among the board members led to a stalemate in decision-making.
• There was dissension in the group chat about where to meet for dinner.
• The dissension between them was causing major drama.
• The dissension in her mind made it hard for her to focus on anything else.

noun a branch of science that deals with the study of home economics, including cooking, sewing, and other household skills

• Domestic science is a field of study that focuses on home economics and household management.
• I learned some useful tips in domestic science class on how to properly clean and organize my home.
• My mom is a pro at domestic science - she can whip up a delicious meal in no time.
• Mastering domestic science is like having a superpower when it comes to running a household efficiently.

verb to entangle or involve someone or something in a difficult situation

• The two companies became enmeshed in a legal dispute over patent infringement.
• I didn't mean to enmesh myself in their drama, but they just keep involving me.
• I didn't realize how enmeshed I was in their gossip until it was too late.
• The intricate plot of the novel enmeshed the readers in a web of suspense.

noun the state of being a father

• Fatherhood is a significant responsibility that requires patience and dedication.
• My friend just entered the world of fatherhood and he's loving every moment of it.
• Dude, fatherhood is no joke - it's a whole new level of adulting.
• Embarking on the journey of fatherhood is like planting a seed and watching it grow into a strong tree.

adjective relating to or befitting a son or daughter; having a relation like that of a child to a parent

• The filial duty of caring for elderly parents is important in many cultures.
• I have a strong filial bond with my siblings.
• My friend is always there for me, he's like my filial bro.
• The tree's branches reached out like filial connections to the ground below.

noun refers to the physical body of a person or animal, often used to emphasize the humanity or physicality of someone

conjunction connects the two nouns 'flesh' and 'blood' to show they are related or connected in some way

• It is important to remember that we are all flesh and blood, with the same needs and desires.
• Hey, don't forget that he's my flesh and blood, so be nice to him.
• I may be tough on the outside, but I'm still your flesh and blood, so show me some love.
• The company is like a family, with all of us being flesh and blood working towards a common goal.

adjective of or denoting an organization for people, especially men, that have common interests or beliefs

• The fraternal organization was established to promote brotherhood and community service.
• My fraternal twin and I have a special bond that can't be broken.
• I love hanging out with my fraternal bros, we always have a good time together.
• The fraternal relationship between the two countries has strengthened over the years.

noun a person born of parents not married to each other

adjective not authorized by the law; not in accordance with accepted standards or rules

• The court ruled that the document was illegitimate and therefore not admissible as evidence.
• She found out that her sister's marriage was illegitimate and was shocked.
• I heard that the rumor about him being illegitimate was just a load of crap.
• The artist considered the copy of his painting to be illegitimate as it lacked the originality and creativity of his work.

noun conflict within a group or organization, typically characterized by intense rivalry or disagreements

• The company's productivity suffered due to the constant infighting among the senior management team.
• The infighting between the siblings over the inheritance is getting out of hand.
• The infighting within the group chat is causing unnecessary drama.
• The infighting among the political parties is like a never-ending game of chess.

noun the act of killing one's own mother

• The act of matricide is considered one of the most heinous crimes in society.
• I can't believe he committed matricide, that's just unforgivable.
• She was arrested for pulling off a matricide last night.
• Betraying your own mother is like committing matricide in terms of emotional impact.

noun a state or quality of being moody or temperamental

• The patient's moodiness could be a symptom of underlying mental health issues.
• I can't keep up with her moodiness, one minute she's happy and the next she's angry.
• Her moodiness is really getting on my nerves lately.
• The storm clouds in his eyes reflected his moodiness.

noun the act of killing one's father, mother, or other close relative

• The man was charged with parricide after murdering his own father.
• I can't believe he committed parricide, that's just messed up.
• Dude, that guy is a total parricide, he killed his own family member.
• Betraying your own principles is a form of intellectual parricide.

noun a Latin word meaning father

• The pater familias was responsible for the well-being and decisions of the entire household.
• My pater is a great cook and always makes the best meals for us.
• Hey pater, can you lend me some cash for the weekend?
• The CEO was considered the pater of the company, guiding it through tough times.

adjective relating to or characteristic of a father; fatherly

• His paternal grandparents came from Ireland.
• His dad's side of the family is Irish.
• His pops' peeps are from Ireland.
• The paternal influence in his life shaped him into the person he is today.

adjective feeling or showing bitterness or indignation at having been treated unfairly

• She couldn't hide her resentful feelings towards her colleague who took credit for her work.
• He felt resentful when his friend forgot his birthday.
• She was so resentful about not getting invited to the party.
• The storm clouds gathered overhead, casting a resentful shadow over the town.

noun A brother or sister; one's relative who shares the same parent or parents.

• The sibling relationship is an important bond that can last a lifetime.
• My sibling and I are always there for each other, no matter what.
• Me and my sib are super close, we tell each other everything.
• In a way, creativity and innovation are like siblings, each feeding off the other to thrive.

noun a playful or provocative act intended to provoke a reaction

verb to make fun of or provoke someone in a playful or unkind way

• The teacher reprimanded the student for teasing his classmates during recess.
• Stop teasing your little brother, he's getting upset.
• She's always teasing me about my fashion sense, but I don't mind.
• The sun teased us with glimpses of light through the clouds before disappearing again.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun, in this case, 'unloving' describes someone or something lacking love or affection

• The unloving nature of their relationship was evident to everyone around them.
• She always knew her father was unloving, but it still hurt when he forgot her birthday.
• Her ex-boyfriend was so unloving, he didn't even care when she was sick.
• The dark clouds in the sky seemed unloving, blocking out the warm rays of the sun.

noun a group of people who have formed a close social circle during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to provide support and reduce feelings of isolation

• During the pandemic, individuals were allowed to form a support bubble with one other household.
• Hey, let's make our support bubble official so we can hang out more often!
• I'm so glad I have my support bubble to keep me sane during these crazy times.
• Her close friends form her emotional support bubble, always there for her when she needs them.

noun In Hawaiian culture, 'kupuna' refers to an elder, grandparent, ancestor, or respected elder.

• The Kupuna in our community hold a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.
• Let's ask the Kupuna for advice on this matter.
• The Kupuna are the OGs of our neighborhood.
• The Kupuna are like the roots of a tree, providing stability and strength to our culture.

noun a jigsaw family is a family unit that fits together like pieces of a puzzle, each member playing a unique and essential role in the overall structure

• The concept of a jigsaw family is when a family is made up of diverse individuals who come together to form a cohesive unit.
• Our family is like a jigsaw puzzle, with each member fitting together perfectly.
• Our jigsaw family is lit, we all bring something unique to the table.
• Each member of our family is like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle, fitting together to create a beautiful picture.

noun an individual who has been legally taken into another family as a child

• The adoptee was thrilled to finally meet their biological parents.
• The adoptee couldn't believe they had siblings they never knew about!
• The adoptee was stoked to find out they were related to a famous celebrity.
• The adoptee felt like a puzzle piece that finally found its place in the family.

noun the act of choosing or taking on something as one's own

• The number of adoptions in the country has been steadily increasing over the years.
• Have you heard about the Smiths' recent adoption of a baby girl?
• I heard they're planning to do a pet adoption event at the shelter next weekend.
• The adoption of new technology in the workplace has greatly improved efficiency.

adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb to provide more information about the manner, place, time, degree, or frequency of an action

• The child was raised in an adoptively loving and supportive environment.
• She was brought up adoptively by her aunt and uncle.
• I heard he was taken in adoptively by his neighbor.
• The company adoptively embraced the new technology to stay competitive.

adjective relating to or characterized by affection or love

• The affectional bond between a parent and child is crucial for healthy emotional development.
• I have always admired their strong affectional relationship.
• They're so cute together, always showing affectional gestures.
• The artist's affectional connection to their work was evident in every brushstroke.