mother-in-law

[muhth-er-in-law] / ˈmʌð ər ɪnˌlɔ /

NOUN

kinsman

Synonyms

STRONG

agnate aunt blood brother-in-law cognate connection cousin father father-in-law folk folks grandparents in-laws kin kinsperson kinswoman mother nephew niece relation sib sibling sister-in-law stepbrother stepparent stepsister uncle

WEAK

clansperson great-grandparents

NOUN

kinswoman

Synonyms

STRONG

agnate aunt blood brother-in-law cognate connection cousin father father-in-law folk folks grandparents in-laws kin kinsman kinsperson mother nephew niece relation sib sibling sister-in-law stepbrother stepparent stepsister uncle

WEAK

clansperson great-grandparents

NOUN

relative

Synonyms

STRONGEST

aunt cousin father folk mother niece sibling uncle

STRONG

agnate blood brother-in-law cognate connection father-in-law folks grandparents in-laws kinsperson nephew relation sib sister-in-law stepbrother stepparent stepsister

WEAK

clansperson great-grandparents

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

My mother-in-law wasn’t one for raunch; she probably just thought the onesie was silly and cute.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026

Twisha was a former beauty pageant winner and actor, while her husband and mother-in-law were lawyers.

From BBC • May 29, 2026

“I don’t really like it too much,” Slatten told the outlet, though she said her relationship with her mother-in-law has improved.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

Pastor Ezra Jin was just finishing dinner with his elderly mother-in-law in the Chinese city of Beihai last October when more than a dozen police appeared at the door.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Then, on Wednesday, Katie’s mother-in-law dropped off the dog.

From "Ungifted" by Gordon Korman

mother-in-law

Example Sentences

Related Words