Parenting Terms

noun a tender feeling towards someone or something

• The father showed great affection towards his children by spending quality time with them.
• I can tell by the way she looks at him that there's a lot of affection between them.
• They're so cute together, you can just feel the affection radiating off of them.
• Her words were filled with affection, like a warm hug for the soul.

noun a prolonged complaint or whine

verb to complain or whine persistently

• The child complained of a bellyache after eating too much candy.
• I always get a bellyache if I eat too fast.
• Stop bellyaching about the long wait, we'll get there eventually.
• She always seems to have a bellyache about something, never satisfied with what she has.

noun a small raised area on a surface

verb to come into contact with something with a jolt or impact

• The car hit a bump in the road causing a slight jolt.
• I almost spilled my coffee when we hit that bump!
• Watch out for that speed bump, don't want to mess up your car.
• The unexpected news was a bump in the road for their plans.

noun a feeling of concern or interest towards someone or something

verb to feel concern or interest towards someone or something; to look after or provide for someone or something

• It is important to provide proper care for the elderly in nursing homes.
• Do you think you can care for my plants while I'm on vacation?
• I'll take care of the dishes, no worries.
• He didn't seem to care for her attitude during the meeting.

noun a gentle and loving touch or gesture

verb to touch or stroke gently in a loving or affectionate manner

• The gentle caress of the silk fabric against her skin was a delightful sensation.
• She couldn't resist reaching out to caress the fluffy puppy's soft fur.
• I saw him trying to caress her hand during the movie, he's so smooth.
• His words seemed to caress her soul, making her feel understood and appreciated.

verb to discipline or punish in order to correct or improve behavior

adjective having a chastening or disciplining effect

• The teacher's harsh words were meant to chasten the students for their unruly behavior.
• My parents always chasten me when I forget to do my chores.
• I got chastened by my boss for being late to work again.
• The failure of his business venture served to chasten his overly optimistic attitude towards entrepreneurship.

verb to discipline or punish in order to correct or improve behavior

adjective feeling remorseful or having a sense of guilt after being disciplined

• After making a mistake, he was chastened by his supervisor in front of the entire team.
• She felt chastened after failing her driving test for the third time.
• He got chastened by his parents for coming home past curfew.
• The defeat in the championship game chastened the team and motivated them to train harder for the next season.

noun the act of cherishing; the state of being cherished

verb to hold or treat as dear; feel love for

• It is important to cherish the time we have with loved ones.
• I really cherish our friendship.
• I totally cherish my new phone.
• She cherished the memories of her childhood like precious treasures.

noun a young animal, such as a bear or lion, especially one that is not fully grown

• The zoo welcomed a new cub to their lion exhibit.
• I can't wait to see the new baby cub at the zoo!
• That little cub is so cute, I can't handle it!
• She's the cub of the group, always looking out for everyone.

noun a close and affectionate embrace

verb to hold close in one's arms as a way of showing love or affection

• The couple enjoyed a quiet evening together, ending with a gentle cuddle on the couch.
• Let's cuddle up and watch a movie tonight.
• I just want to cuddle with my dog and forget about everything else.
• The warmth of the sun felt like a gentle cuddle on my skin.

noun a person who is very dear to another; a beloved person

adjective very dear; dearly loved

• My darling, I must ask for your hand in marriage.
• Hey darling, want to grab dinner tonight?
• What's up, darling? You ready to party?
• The sunset painted the sky in shades of pink and orange, like a darling masterpiece.

noun a lack of respect or courtesy

verb to show a lack of respect or courtesy towards someone or something

• Disrespect towards authority figures is not tolerated in this organization.
• Don't disrespect your elders like that.
• She straight up disrespected him in front of everyone.
• His actions showed a blatant disrespect for the rules.

verb to be extremely and uncritically fond of

• The grandmother would dote on her grandchildren, showering them with love and attention.
• My mom tends to dote on our family dog, buying him all sorts of treats and toys.
• She's always doting on her boyfriend, it's kind of annoying.
• The artist would dote on every detail of his masterpiece, ensuring it was perfect in every way.

noun a stupid or inept person

• The professor referred to the student as a dunderhead for not understanding the concept.
• My brother can be such a dunderhead sometimes, always forgetting his keys.
• Don't be a dunderhead and mess this up for us.
• His stubbornness made him appear like a dunderhead in front of his colleagues.

verb to develop wings and feathers that are large enough for flight, typically describing a young bird

• The young birds will fledge when they are ready to leave the nest.
• The baby birds are almost ready to fledge and fly on their own.
• I can't believe how quickly those chicks are going to fledge!
• It's time for you to fledge from your comfort zone and try something new.

noun a state of being worried or anxious

adjective fretful

• Her constant fretfulness about the upcoming presentation was evident in her tense demeanor.
• Don't let your fretfulness ruin the fun of the party.
• She was in a constant state of fretfulness, always worrying about every little thing.
• The dark clouds of fretfulness loomed over her, casting a shadow on her usual sunny disposition.

verb to bring forth a baby or young

• The mother gave birth to a healthy baby boy in the hospital.
• She gave birth to a beautiful baby girl yesterday.
• She popped out the kid last night.
• The artist's creativity gave birth to a masterpiece.

verb to mature or develop in a physical, mental, or emotional way

• It is important to teach children good manners as they grow up.
• When I grow up, I want to be a pilot.
• I can't believe she's still acting like a child, she needs to grow up.
• As time passes, we all grow up and mature in different ways.

noun a person who is incorrigible

adjective incapable of being corrected or reformed

• Despite numerous interventions, the student remained incorrigible in his behavior.
• No matter what we say, he's just an incorrigible troublemaker.
• That guy is totally incorrigible, he never listens to anyone.
• Her love for him was incorrigible, no matter how much he hurt her.

noun a person's work or effort that is done out of love, passion, or dedication

• The restoration of the historic building was truly a labor of love for the preservation society.
• Baking this elaborate cake for my friend's birthday was a real labor of love, but totally worth it.
• Growing this garden from scratch was a total labor of love, but now it's my happy place.
• Writing a novel is often described as a labor of love, requiring dedication and passion.

verb to gain knowledge or skill by studying, practicing, or being taught

• It is important to learn new skills in order to stay competitive in the job market.
• I'm trying to learn how to play the guitar, but it's not easy.
• I need to learn the ropes at my new job before I feel comfortable.
• Sometimes we have to learn the hard way in order to truly understand the consequences of our actions.

noun a person who lollygags or engages in aimless activities

verb to spend time aimlessly or to dawdle

• The employees were warned not to lollygag during work hours.
• Stop lollygagging and get back to work!
• Quit lollygagging around and start doing something productive.
• Don't lollygag when it comes to pursuing your dreams, take action now.

adjective describing a feeling of affection or care towards someone or something

• The couple showed their loving affection towards each other during the charity event.
• I can tell by the way they look at each other that they are a loving couple.
• My best friend is always gushing about her loving boyfriend.
• The artist's painting was a loving tribute to his late grandmother.

noun A female parent or mother.

• My mother, also known as my mom, is a highly respected member of the community.
• I'm going to grab lunch with my mom later today.
• My mom is always there to hype me up when I need it.
• The Earth is like a nurturing mom, providing us with everything we need to survive.

noun the act of being a mother or providing maternal care

verb to act as a mother or provide maternal care

• The act of mothering involves providing care and nurturing to a child.
• She's always mothering everyone around her, making sure they're okay.
• Stop mothering me, I can take care of myself!
• The teacher took on a mothering role, guiding her students with wisdom and compassion.

noun silence or secrecy, as in 'keeping mum'

• My mum is a highly respected physician in our community.
• I'm going to visit my mum this weekend for some home-cooked food.
• My mum is the bomb, she always knows how to cheer me up.
• The earth is like a mother to all living beings, nurturing and sustaining us like a mum would.

verb to rub or push gently against someone or something with the nose or face, typically as a gesture of affection

• The horse gently nuzzled its foal to show affection.
• My cat loves to nuzzle against my face when I come home.
• The puppy nuzzled up to its owner for a treat.
• The soft blanket seemed to nuzzle me as I wrapped myself in it.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case 'overanxious' describes a state of being excessively anxious

• The overanxious student was constantly worried about their grades.
• My mom gets overanxious every time I'm out late with friends.
• Don't be so overanxious, everything will work out in the end.
• His overanxious behavior was like a dark cloud hanging over the group.

noun a decision made by someone in authority that rejects or disallows something

verb to reject or disallow by exercising one's authority

• The judge has the authority to overrule objections during the trial.
• I hope the teacher will overrule the homework assignment for tonight.
• I can't believe my mom overruled my plans to go out with friends.
• Sometimes our emotions can overrule our logical thinking.

verb to indulge with every attention, comfort, and kindness; to spoil

• The spa offers a variety of treatments to pamper their clients.
• I like to pamper myself with a bubble bath and a good book.
• I'm going to pamper myself with a shopping spree this weekend.
• The wealthy businessman was used to being pampered by his assistants.

noun the act of allowing someone to do something

adjective permissible

• Before making any changes to the building, please ensure you have the necessary permission from the local council.
• Hey, can I borrow your car tonight? I promise I'll ask for permission next time.
• Dude, I'm gonna sneak out tonight without permission from my parents. Wish me luck!
• Sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission when taking risks in business.

verb to produce offspring; to reproduce

• The purpose of marriage is often seen as a means to procreate and continue the family line.
• Some people choose not to procreate and instead focus on their careers or other interests.
• I heard she's been trying to procreate with that guy she just started dating.
• The artist's goal was to procreate ideas and concepts through their unique style of painting.

noun the fact of being or becoming a parent

• The purpose of marriage is often seen as a means for procreation.
• Some couples choose not to have children, so procreation is not a priority for them.
• People sometimes joke about procreation being a way to pass on their good looks.
• In literature, the act of procreation is often used as a symbol of creation and life.

adjective a term used to describe something that is foul-smelling or disgusting

• The child felt puky after eating too much candy.
• I always feel puky after riding roller coasters.
• I can't eat that pizza, it makes me feel puky.
• The thought of public speaking makes me puky with nerves.

verb to soften in feeling, temper, or determination; become more mild, compassionate, or forgiving

• Despite numerous warnings, the storm refused to relent, causing widespread damage.
• I've been asking for a break all day, but my boss won't relent.
• My mom keeps nagging me about cleaning my room, she just won't relent.
• The pain in her heart did not relent, even after years had passed.

verb to voluntarily give up or let go of something

adjective having given up or surrendered something

• The land was relinquished by the previous owner and now belongs to the government.
• She relinquished her spot in line so she could grab a snack.
• He finally relinquished his hold on the remote after hours of arguing.
• She relinquished her fears and embraced the unknown adventure ahead.

noun the state or fact of having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone

adjective having a duty to deal with something or of having control over someone

• It is important for individuals to understand their responsibility to follow company policies.
• Hey, don't forget your responsibility to take out the trash tonight.
• Dude, you gotta own up to your responsibility and apologize to her.
• As the team leader, she carried the responsibility of guiding her colleagues towards success.

adjective describing the state of being tired or drowsy

• After a long day of work, I felt very sleepy and decided to go to bed early.
• I'm so sleepy right now, I can barely keep my eyes open.
• I was feeling mad sleepy, so I crashed on the couch for a quick nap.
• The old building looked sleepy, with its faded paint and overgrown garden.

verb to kill (someone) by covering their nose and mouth so that they suffocate; to extinguish (a fire) by depriving it of oxygen; to cover or envelop completely

• The victim was found smothered to death in her own home.
• I can't eat this sandwich, it's smothered in mayonnaise.
• My roommate smothered the living room with his dirty clothes.
• The overbearing mother smothered her child with constant attention.

noun a complaint uttered in a whining or tearful way

verb to cry and sniffle in a feeble or fretful way

• She couldn't help but snivel as she recounted the tragic events of the past week.
• Stop your sniveling and just deal with the situation like an adult.
• I can't stand it when people snivel about every little thing.
• The old house seemed to snivel in the cold wind, its creaks and groans like quiet sobs.

noun a child of one's spouse by a previous marriage

• The stepchild is entitled to certain legal rights as a dependent of the deceased parent.
• The stepchild is coming over for dinner tonight.
• I heard the stepchild is a real troublemaker.
• The new project was treated like a stepchild compared to the company's flagship product.

noun a quality or state of being tender; kindness, gentleness, or affection

verb not applicable

adjective not applicable

adverb not applicable

pronoun not applicable

preposition not applicable

conjunction not applicable

interjection not applicable

article not applicable

• The doctor noted the tenderness in the patient's abdomen during the examination.
• She showed great tenderness towards her newborn baby.
• I can't believe he had the tenderness to apologize after what he did.
• The tenderness of her words brought comfort to his heart.

verb to walk with short, unsteady steps, as a young child learning to walk

• The toddler was toddling around the park with his parents.
• I love watching little kids toddling around, they're so cute!
• The puppy was toddling all over the yard, chasing after its tail.
• She felt like she was just toddling through life, not really sure where she was going.

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun, in this case, 'undutiful' describes someone who fails to fulfill their duties or obligations

• The undutiful son refused to help his elderly parents with their daily chores.
• She was labeled as undutiful for not attending her best friend's wedding.
• He's always been an undutiful brat, never following any rules.
• The wilting flower was described as undutiful to its purpose of blooming beautifully.

noun a term used colloquially to refer to the mother of one's child, especially when not married to or in a relationship with the father

• The babymother is seeking custody of their child in court.
• My babymother is throwing a birthday party for our son next weekend.
• I heard his babymother is causing drama again.
• She is like a babymother to all of her friends, always taking care of them and looking out for their well-being.

noun A person or thing that causes disappointment or fails to meet expectations

• The company's poor performance in the last quarter was a major disappointer for shareholders.
• I was really looking forward to the concert, but it turned out to be a big disappointer.
• That movie was a total disappointer, I expected so much more.
• The broken promise was a disappointer for all those involved.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article a word that specifies a noun (e.g. the, a, an)

• The government decided to cut the purse strings on non-essential spending in order to reduce the budget deficit.
• My parents finally decided to cut the purse strings and stop giving me money for unnecessary expenses.
• I think it's time for you to cut the purse strings and start paying for your own bills.
• It's important to cut the purse strings and become financially independent at some point in your life.

verb to pester or irritate someone with persistent complaints or criticisms

• The constant mithering from the employees about the new policy was becoming tiresome.
• Stop mithering me about doing the dishes, I'll get to it eventually.
• Quit mithering me, I'll do it when I feel like it.
• The doubts kept mithering at the back of his mind, making it hard to focus.

noun a child of one's son or daughter

• I am looking forward to spending quality time with my grandkid during the holidays.
• I can't wait to hang out with my grandkid this weekend!
• My grandkid is the coolest kid on the block.
• Having a grandkid feels like winning the jackpot in life.

noun a term used to describe a light mark left on the skin, typically by a loved one

• The baby's soft skin was marked with an angel kiss on her forehead.
• I woke up with an angel kiss from the sun on my cheek.
• She left an angel kiss of lipstick on his collar.
• The gentle breeze felt like an angel kiss on her face.

noun a man who is married to one's parent but is not one's biological father

• My stepdad is a very kind and supportive figure in my life.
• I'm going to hang out with my stepdad this weekend, he's pretty cool.
• My stepdad is like a second dad to me, he's always got my back.
• Having a stepdad is like gaining an extra layer of love and care in my family.

noun a slang term for a selfie taken while breastfeeding

• The celebrity posted a brelfie on her social media account to promote breastfeeding awareness.
• My friend loves taking brelfies with her baby to share with her followers.
• I can't believe she took a brelfie in the middle of the restaurant!
• His brelfie with the newborn symbolized the bond between father and child.

noun a made-up word combining 'mom' and 'marathon' to refer to a busy and active day or period in the life of a mother

• The momathon event was organized to celebrate and honor the hard work of mothers.
• I'm so tired after that momathon of cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the kids all day.
• I can't believe she pulled off that momathon of a birthday party for her kid!
• Her daily routine felt like a never-ending momathon of tasks and responsibilities.

noun a young child or baby

preposition a word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause

• The young mother held her babe in arms as she walked through the park.
• She looked so cute with her babe in arms, didn't she?
• I saw a dude with a babe in arms at the mall yesterday.
• The new project was like a babe in arms for the inexperienced team, they had no idea how to handle it.

adverb relating to or characterized by affection; lovingly

• She affectionally greeted each of her guests with a warm smile and a handshake.
• He affectionally calls his best friend 'bro' as a term of endearment.
• They affectionally refer to each other as 'babe' in their relationship.
• The old couple held hands affectionally as they walked through the park, a symbol of their enduring love.