as in cousin
a person connected with another by blood or marriage
to protect the family honor, he sought to revenge the murder of his kinsman
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of kinsman
But the chief’s kinsmen failed to honor his request.
—
Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Compared to Joshua Thompson and his kinsmen, the McAlberts of Canton were mere liegemen in the local hackerama.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Our family grew—from the three siblings left in the wake of our mother’s death—to a bustling bunch of kinsmen redeemers.
—James T. Farmer, Southern Living, 8 July 2025
Rediscovering his family’s ancestral land centuries after the religious wars forced those kinsmen to flee, our caballero soon steps in to protect a local clan from an oppressive landowner and his abusive henchmen.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 20 Sep. 2024
At the time of President Lincoln's assassination, my father was in Washington visiting his kinsman, Col. Thomas M. Vincent, who was on the staff of the Adjutant General.
—Chris Ciaccia, Fox News, 3 Sep. 2020
Women were rewarded for refusing to shelter men, including kinsmen, who were involved in the genocide, and for testifying against their rapists.
—Rania Abouzeid, National Geographic, 15 Oct. 2019
Their kinsmen, already in the United States, have been vital factors in farm and workshop for generations.
—Lily Rothman, Time, 20 June 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kinsman
Noun
-
Expansion cousins like the Penguins, Flyers, Kings and Blues have all taken home the coveted trophy since then.—
-
The younger cousin to former Gators defensive back Dee Webb chose Florida over Penn State and South Carolina.—
Noun
-
In Kane County, members of the Native American community gathered in December to welcome back a relative that's been missing for generations.—
-
Living in a transient city far from relatives, Neena finds comfort in Carol’s home.—
Cite this Entry
“Kinsman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kinsman. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share