avuncular

[ uh-vuhng-kyuh-ler ]

/ əˈvʌŋ kyə lər /

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See synonyms for avuncular on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of or relating to an uncle: He spoke of his sister's son with avuncular pride.

acting like an uncle, as in being kind, patient, generous, etc., especially to younger people: the avuncular, slightly condescending boss of a toy company.

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Origin of avuncular

First recorded in 1825–35; from Latin avuncul(us) “a mother's brother,” equivalent to av(us) “a forefather” + unattested -ont- + unattested -l(os) diminutive suffix (cf. uncle) + -ar¹

OTHER WORDS FROM avuncular

a·vun·cu·lar·i·ty

[uh-vuhng-kyuh-lar-i-tee] /əˌvʌŋ kyəˈlær ɪ ti/ nouna·vun·cu·lar·ly, adverb

Words nearby avuncular

Avram, avruga, a vuestra salud, avulse, avulsion, avuncular, avunculate, aw, awa, AWACS, await

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use avuncular in a sentence

There’s a world of difference between Lindell, with his conspiracy theory-fuelled, feverish pleading for those in power to take his claims seriously, and Cuffe’s avuncular small-town sincerity.
The Big Lie’s Long Shadow|Kaleigh Rogers|January 12, 2022|FiveThirtyEight
Constantine—a lifelong cut-up who loves avuncular humor—dubbed these talks “scuba diving in the mind.”
Meet the Couple Who Just Set 5 Long-Distance Hiking Records|awise|January 7, 2022|Outside Online
Assuming an avuncular tone, the elder crow apologizes for smacking you on your noggin before going on to explain that it, too, used to work as a reaper.
‘Death’s Door’: A clever and fun Zelda homage|Christopher Byrd|July 30, 2021|Washington Post
It was more of a plea than a poem — the avuncular words of an ordinary Joe.
America yearns for an era of good feeling. The inaugural ceremony launched one.|Peter Marks|January 20, 2021|Washington Post

FDR gives an avuncular grin around his famous cigarette holder to Andrew Jackson.
The 100 Coolest Americans Gather at the National Portrait Gallery|William O’Connor|February 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“You paid good money for this,” says the Vacuum Cleaner Guy (brilliantly played by an avuncular but ruthless Robert Forster).
‘Granite State,’ the Penultimate Episode of ‘Breaking Bad,’ Is Walter White’s Final Act|Andrew Romano|September 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
At precisely 11:00, NRA president David Keene plodded slowly to the podium, bespectacled, white haired, and avuncular.
The NRA: From Awful to Even Worse|Michelle Cottle|December 22, 2012|DAILY BEAST
From Cairo, Ashraf Khalil reports on the clash between an aggressive Amr Moussa and avuncular Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh.
Moussa, Aboul Fotouh Spar in Egypt’s Epic First Presidential Debate|Ashraf Khalil|May 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Even more polite than Jay, Brian Leveson gives off the avuncular air of a kindly head master.
Curtains for Murdoch|Peter Jukes|April 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST
For those who, with Mller, suppose Hengest to be brother of Hnf, will have to admit the avuncular difficulty in him also.
Beowulf|R. W. Chambers
He merely smiled benignly upon Caput in an avuncular fashion.
By Advice of Counsel|Arthur Train
The avuncular countenance lighted up: here were fresh woods and pastures new to that ancient shepherd.
Humorous Masterpieces from American Literature|Various
Flora lingering at her avuncular pleasures, she herself went to the closet and took down a dress.
V. V.'s Eyes|Henry Sydnor Harrison
The time would soon come when the avuncular character would be more difficult to support than that of a rejected absentee.
The Honour of the Clintons|Archibald Marshall

British Dictionary definitions for avuncular

avuncular

/ (əˈvʌŋkjʊlə) /

adjective

of or concerned with an uncle

resembling an uncle; friendly; helpful

Word Origin for avuncular

C19: from Latin avunculus (maternal) uncle, diminutive of avus grandfather

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

avuncular

Origin of avuncular

OTHER WORDS FROM avuncular

Words nearby avuncular

Words related to avuncular

How to use avuncular in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for avuncular

Word Origin for avuncular