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Definition of grandfatherly

grandfatherly

/ˈɡrændˌfɑːðərli/
grand · fa · ther · ly

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grandfatherly Lexical Profile

grandfatherly Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Characteristic of or resembling a grandfather, especially in being kindly, protective, patient, or benign.

Example

"The retired professor offered some grandfatherly advice to the nervous first-year students."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Despite ending in '-ly', 'grandfatherly' is an adjective rather than an adverb. To express an adverbial meaning, speakers use a prepositional phrase such as 'in a grandfatherly manner'.

Cite this Entry


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