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

Ahead of Sturgeon's Kuenssberg interview, her lawyer Aamer Anwar insisted his client never spotted the 24ft-long motorhome parked in the driveway at the side of her mother-in-law house during her visits.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 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

She said she finally understands why her mother-in-law “fell apart” when Biggs told her they were getting married.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

"I'm here on account of my French-Canadian mother-in-law."

From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath

mother-in-law

Example Sentences

Related Words