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Definition of brotherly

brotherly

/ˈbrʌð.ər.li/
broth · er · ly
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brotherly Lexical Profile

brotherly Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Of, relating to, or characteristic of a brother.

Example

"He offered his younger sibling some well-meaning brotherly advice before college."

2

Showing warmth, kindness, and loyal affection toward others, as is ideal between brothers.

Example

"The volunteers worked together in a spirit of brotherly cooperation to rebuild the community center."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for brotherly

Word Nuance & Usage

Although formed with the suffix '-ly', 'brotherly' functions exclusively as an adjective in modern English (e.g., 'brotherly advice'); adverbial ideas are expressed using phrases like 'in a brotherly way'.

• Rhymes for brotherly

• Nearby Words

brotherless
brotherlike
brotherliness
brotherly
brothy
brouhaha
brow

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'brothorlic', formed from 'brothor' (brother) and the adjectival suffix '-lic' (-ly).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Brotherly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/brotherly
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