Sisterly
What it means
Showing the warm support associated with a caring sister.
Reach for it when describing affectionate, protective, or candid support associated with a caring sister
Her sisterly advice was gentle, honest, and practical.
Words to choose between 8
| warm |
|
|---|---|
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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warm
Fits when visible fondness is the main quality
Careful Affection can be romantic or parental.
-
warm
Fits when ongoing concern is the plain idea
Careful Care does not imply equal, sibling-like relation.
-
warm
Fits when guarding another's well-being is central
Careful Protectiveness can become controlling.
-
warm
sibling-like
Fits when inclusive family-like closeness is central
Careful The phrase loses sisterly's gendered cultural shade.
-
professional
Fits when practical or emotional help matters
Careful Supportive is broader and lacks familial closeness.
-
formal
Fits when family-like relationship is the neutral concept
Careful Familial is impersonal and includes many roles.
-
formal
sororal
Fits when technical or anthropological prose needs the relation
Careful Sororal is rare and unsuitable for ordinary praise.
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literary
Fits when easy shared company is central
Careful Companionable lacks protective candor.
Opposites 3
- unsisterly
- hostile
- distant
Common phrases 3
-
sisterly advice
Her sisterly advice was candid without becoming controlling.
-
sisterly affection
Sisterly affection survived years in different countries.
-
sisterly bond
Their sisterly bond made room for disagreement.
Usage notes
Keep in mind
Sisterly is gendered and relational. Use supportive or caring when the family comparison is not relevant or welcome.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Flame, not lame, American accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated