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Glite Dictionary
🙅‍♀️ Not motherly 👩‍⚕️ Not from a mother
nonmaternal

nonmaternal

7.0
Not showing the usual caring feelings or behavior of a mother
  • adjective
  • /ˌnɒn.məˈtɜrn.əl/
translation icon : no maternal
  • The teacher's nonmaternal approach focused more on discipline than on comfort.

Examples

  • Some people are naturally nonmaternal and prefer not to take on caregiving roles.

  • Her attitude was distinctly nonmaternal towards the children.

  • Her nonmaternal response to the child's needs surprised her friends.

  • She is quite nonmaternal.

  • Her nonmaternal response to the child's needs surprised her friends.

  • The teacher's nonmaternal approach focused more on discipline than on comfort.

  • Some people are naturally nonmaternal and prefer not to take on caregiving roles.

Antonyms

maternal
55 3.8

Showing care and kindness like a mother

How Maternal

motherly
16 2.3
maternal
55 3.8
nonmaternal
7.0

Surface Forms

nonmaternal positive

Morphology

nonmaternal = maternal (transparent) = non + maternal

The prefix 'non-' clearly negates the adjective 'maternal', making the meaning straightforward.

Etymology

Nonmaternal is made of non- meaning 'not' and maternal from a root meaning 'mother', like in maternity. So it describes a person or response that does not show the usual motherly feelings or behaviour.