Parenting Vocabulary

adjective having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

• She felt ambivalent about the new policy changes, unsure if they would benefit the company in the long run.
• I'm kind of ambivalent about going to the party tonight, I'm not sure if I'm in the mood.
• I'm feeling ambivalent AF about this whole situation, like I just can't make up my mind.
• Her emotions were like a seesaw, constantly swinging between love and hate, leaving her feeling ambivalent towards him.

noun used in the phrase 'lead someone astray' meaning to cause someone to make a mistake or go wrong

adjective away from the correct path or direction

adverb away from the correct path or direction

• The lost hikers were led astray by a faulty map.
• I got astray on my way to the party and ended up in the wrong neighborhood.
• She always leads me astray with her bad advice.
• His mind wandered astray during the boring meeting.

noun a person who takes care of a child in the absence of the child's parents

verb to care for a child in the absence of the child's parents

• I will need to hire a babysitter to baby sit my children while I attend the conference.
• Can you baby sit my cat for the weekend?
• I'm going to ask my cousin to babysit my little brother tonight.
• As the project manager, it's my responsibility to baby sit the progress of the team's tasks.

adjective describing something that is likely to induce vomiting; nauseating

• The smell of the garbage made me feel a bit barfy.
• That movie was so gross, it made me feel super barfy.
• I can't eat that, it looks totally barfy.
• The thought of public speaking makes me feel barfy.

verb to assign responsibility for a fault or wrong

adjective feeling or expressing disapproval or condemnation

• The company's CEO blamed the decrease in profits on the global economic downturn.
• She blamed her tardiness on traffic.
• He got blamed for breaking the vase even though it wasn't his fault.
• The politician was quick to blame his opponent for the scandal, deflecting attention from his own wrongdoings.

noun a group of young animals, especially birds, born at the same time

verb to sit on eggs to keep them warm until they hatch

• The hen sat on her brood of eggs, keeping them warm until they hatched.
• The mama bird is always brooding over her little ones, making sure they're safe.
• Stop brooding over what happened, it's not worth your time and energy.
• The dark clouds seemed to brood over the landscape, casting a shadow over everything.

noun a scolding or reprimand

verb to scold or rebuke someone mildly

• The teacher had to chide the student for not completing the assignment on time.
• I didn't mean to chide you, I was just trying to help.
• She chided her friend for being late to the party.
• The wind seemed to chide the leaves as they rustled in the breeze.

noun a familiar term of address for a father

• The young girl ran to her father and called out 'daddy' in a formal setting.
• I asked my daddy to help me fix my car in an informal setting.
• My daddy is the coolest dude around, slang for father.
• The CEO was known as the 'daddy' of the industry, figuratively speaking.

noun a person who is slow or waste time by being indecisive or idle

• The dawdler in the group caused us to be late for the meeting.
• Stop being a dawdler and hurry up!
• Don't be such a dawdler, we need to get moving.
• His dawdler attitude towards life is preventing him from reaching his goals.

verb past tense of displease

adjective expressing dissatisfaction or annoyance

• The customer was displeased with the quality of service provided.
• I could tell she was really displeased with the outcome of the project.
• He was totally displeased with how the party turned out.
• The artist was displeased with the way the colors clashed in his painting.

verb to give knowledge or instruction to someone; to teach

• It is important to educate the public on the benefits of sustainable living.
• I try to educate my friends about the importance of recycling.
• I'm always trying to educate my crew on the latest slang terms.
• Reading books can educate your mind in ways that nothing else can.

verb to cause to be loved or regarded with affection

• Her kind words never failed to endear her to those around her.
• His goofy sense of humor really endears him to everyone at the office.
• That puppy dog face really endears him to me, I can't resist it.
• The old bookstore's charm never fails to endear itself to visitors.

verb to escape or leave a place suddenly or secretly

• The bird decided to fly the coop and explore the world beyond its cage.
• I heard that Mark is planning to fly the coop and move to a new city.
• I can't believe Sarah just flew the coop without telling anyone!
• After years of working at the same company, John finally decided to fly the coop and start his own business.

noun a fully developed adult

adjective matured or developed in a physical, mental, or emotional way

• As I have grown up, I have come to appreciate the importance of hard work and dedication.
• I can't believe how fast time has flown by; it feels like just yesterday we were kids and now we're all grown up.
• I feel like such a grown-up now that I have my own apartment and bills to pay.
• Her ideas have really grown up over the years, becoming more sophisticated and nuanced.

noun a complaint uttered in a low, indistinct tone

verb to complain or protest about something in a low, indistinct tone

• The employees were starting to grumble about the new policies implemented by the management.
• I could hear my stomach grumble as I walked past the bakery.
• Stop your grumbling and just get the job done.
• The thunder grumbled in the distance as the storm approached.

adjective free from guilt; innocent

• The defendant maintained his innocence throughout the trial, claiming he was guiltless of the crime.
• I swear I didn't eat the last cookie, I'm totally guiltless!
• She's always getting away with stuff, she's like guiltless queen or something.
• The artist's work was so pure and honest, it felt guiltless in its expression.

verb to instill an idea, habit, or attitude through persistent instruction or repetition

• The values of honesty and integrity were inculcated in the employees through training sessions.
• My parents inculcated the importance of hard work in me from a young age.
• The coach inculcated the team with the mindset of never giving up.
• Through her actions, she inculcated a sense of compassion in those around her.

adjective a word that describes or gives more information about a noun or pronoun, in this case, lazy describes someone who is unwilling to work or use energy

• The employee was reprimanded for being consistently lazy in completing tasks.
• My brother is so lazy, he never helps with chores around the house.
• I can't believe you're being so lazy, get off the couch and do something productive!
• The stagnant pond was described as lazy, with no movement or activity.

adjective A term used to describe someone who has behaved badly or disobediently

• The child was scolded for their naughty behavior in class.
• I can't believe you ate all the cookies, you naughty thing!
• She's always up to something naughty, that one.
• The storm wreaked havoc on the town, like a naughty child causing chaos.

verb to impress or restrain by inspiring fear or awe

• The speaker's powerful presence seemed to overawe the audience.
• Her confidence and charisma really overawed everyone in the room.
• The way he strutted in like he owned the place totally overawed me.
• The grandeur of the mountains never fails to overawe me with its beauty.

verb to calm or soothe someone who is angry or upset

• The diplomat tried to pacify the warring factions and bring about a peaceful resolution.
• She tried to pacify her upset friend by offering a listening ear and some comforting words.
• I had to pacify my growling stomach with a quick snack before dinner.
• The soothing music helped to pacify my anxious mind before the big presentation.

adjective having or showing an irritable disposition

• The peevish customer complained about the slow service at the restaurant.
• She's always so peevish in the mornings before she's had her coffee.
• Why are you being so peevish about it? Chill out.
• His peevish attitude was like a dark cloud hanging over the party.

verb to bother or annoy persistently

adjective causing annoyance or irritation through persistent bothering

• The customer kept pestering the sales representative for a discount.
• Stop pestering me with your constant questions!
• Quit pestering me, dude!
• Negative thoughts kept pestering her mind like a persistent fly.

noun meaningless or foolish talk

verb to talk at length in a foolish or inconsequential way

• During the meeting, she couldn't help but prattle on about irrelevant topics.
• She always prattles on about her weekend plans.
• Stop prattling and get to the point!
• The stream prattled along, soothing the hiker's mind.

noun refers to the external genital organs of the human body that are typically covered by clothing

adjective describes something as belonging to or concerning an individual person or group, and not for public knowledge or disclosure

• It is important to teach children about the proper names for their private parts.
• Hey, make sure you cover up your private parts at the pool.
• I can't believe he whipped out his junk in public, what a creep.
• She felt like someone had invaded her private parts when he asked personal questions.

noun an increase in amount, level, or degree

verb to lift or move to a higher position

adjective elevated or lifted up

• The company raised funds through a successful IPO.
• She raised her hand to ask a question in class.
• I raised some serious cash selling my old stuff online.
• His actions raised suspicions among his colleagues.

noun an expression of rebuke or disapproval

verb to address someone in such a way as to express disapproval or disappointment

• She could not help but reproach him for his careless mistake during the presentation.
• I can't believe she reproached me for forgetting her birthday.
• He got reproached by his boss for slacking off at work.
• The dark clouds seemed to reproach the town for its neglect of the environment.

adjective having a consistency like that of a liquid, typically as a result of being melted or cooked

adverb in a manner that is runny

• The soup had a runny consistency, indicating it was not cooked properly.
• I hate when my nose gets runny during allergy season.
• I can't eat that pizza, the cheese looks runny and gross.
• Her excuses were so runny, I could tell she was lying.

adjective an adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'snotty' describes someone who is arrogant or unpleasant in behavior.

• The snotty attitude of the customer made it difficult for the salesperson to assist them.
• She always acts so snotty when she's around people she thinks are beneath her.
• I can't stand that snotty girl who is always bragging about her designer clothes.
• His snotty remarks left a bad taste in everyone's mouth during the meeting.

verb to wander away from a set course or path

adjective wandering away from a set course or path

• The sheep were straying from the flock, causing concern for the shepherd.
• I caught my dog straying into the neighbor's yard again.
• I always end up straying off the beaten path when I go hiking.
• Her mind was straying to thoughts of the past as she tried to focus on the present task.

noun a term of endearment used to refer to a loved one or someone who is sweet or kind

• The teacher addressed the young students as 'sweetie' to create a warm and friendly atmosphere in the classroom.
• Hey sweetie, do you want to grab some ice cream later?
• What's up, sweetie? You lookin' fine today!
• Her voice was as sweet as honey, making everyone feel like they were her sweetie.

adjective describing someone or something that does not approve or show disapproval

• The committee members were unapproving of the proposed budget cuts.
• My parents were unapproving of my decision to quit my job and travel the world.
• She gave me an unapproving look when I told her I forgot to do my homework.
• The dark clouds overhead seemed unapproving of our picnic plans.

noun the quality or state of being difficult to manage or control

• The unmanageability of the project became evident as deadlines were consistently missed.
• The unmanageability of my messy room is getting out of hand.
• I can't deal with the unmanageability of this situation right now.
• The unmanageability of her emotions was like a storm brewing inside her.

verb to scold or criticize severely

• The teacher upbraided the student for not completing the assignment on time.
• She always upbraids me for leaving dirty dishes in the sink.
• My mom upbraided me for coming home late again.
• The coach upbraided the team for their lackluster performance on the field.

adjective experienced in the imagination through the feelings or actions of another person

• She experienced vicarious joy through her daughter's accomplishments.
• I get a vicarious thrill from watching scary movies.
• I'm living vicariously through my friend's Instagram posts of their vacation.
• Reading about the characters' adventures in the book gave me a sense of vicarious excitement.

noun a colloquial term for a young child or baby

• The term 'sprog' is often used as a colloquialism for a young child.
• Hey, have you seen my sprog running around here somewhere?
• I can't believe that sprog just pulled off that trick on his skateboard!
• The new project is still in its sprog phase, but it shows a lot of potential.

adjective describing someone who lacks good manners or behaves rudely

• The guest was quite bad-mannered, speaking loudly during the formal dinner.
• I can't stand hanging out with that bad-mannered guy, he's always interrupting people.
• She's so bad-mannered, always cutting in line like she owns the place.
• His bad-mannered behavior left a sour taste in everyone's mouth.

noun a lullaby or cradlesong

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 composer wrote a beautiful berceuse for the piano recital.
• I love listening to that berceuse before bed, it helps me relax.
• Have you heard that new berceuse? It's so catchy!
• The gentle rhythm of the waves crashing against the shore was like a soothing berceuse.

noun a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

adjective a word used to describe or modify a noun

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

article a word that is used to specify a noun

• The CEO ripped the employee a new one for missing the deadline.
• My mom is going to rip me a new one when she finds out I failed my math test.
• Don't mess with him, he'll rip you a new asshole if you cross him.
• The coach ripped the team a new one during halftime to motivate them to play better.

adjective describing someone who complains or grumbles a lot

• Her constant moany attitude towards work is starting to affect the team's morale.
• Stop being so moany all the time, it's getting annoying.
• She's always so moany about everything, it's like she can never be happy.
• The old house had a moany sound to it, as if it was complaining about its age.

noun A person who typically receives a grade of C in their academic studies

• The student who consistently receives average grades is often referred to as a C student.
• My friend is a bit of a C student, but they still work hard and try their best.
• Yeah, he's definitely a C student, but he's got other talents outside of academics.
• In the world of competitive sports, he's considered a C student compared to the top athletes.

adjective a slang term used to describe something or someone as adorable or cute

• The baby's outfit was absolutely adorbs.
• OMG, that puppy is so adorbs!
• My new phone case is adorbs AF.
• Their love story is just adorbs, like a fairy tale.

noun a term used to describe a child of same-sex parents

• The couple decided to start a family and welcomed their first child, a gayby, into the world.
• My friend just had a baby and we all can't wait to meet the little gayby!
• I heard Sarah and Mike are expecting a gayby next year!
• The new employee was like a gayby in the office, eager to learn and grow.

noun a pet, especially a dog or cat, that is treated like a member of the family

• Many people consider their furkid to be a beloved member of the family.
• I can't wait to cuddle with my furkid when I get home!
• My furkid is the cutest little fluffball ever!
• Having a furkid has brought so much joy and companionship into my life.

noun the state of being abandoned

• The abandonment of the project was met with disappointment from the team members.
• She felt hurt by her friend's sudden abandonment.
• I can't believe he pulled an abandonment on us like that.
• The abandonment of his dreams left him feeling lost and directionless.