paternalistic

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adjective

the quality of being paternal, i.e. like a father, e.g. characterized by behaving in a benevolent yet intrusive manner towards underlings

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UncommonScrabble 17

Meanings

adjectivepaternalistic (comparative more paternalistic, superlative most paternalistic)

comparative more paternalistic · superlative most paternalistic

  1. the quality of being paternal, i.e. like a father, e.g. characterized by behaving in a benevolent yet intrusive manner towards underlings
  2. of, pertaining to, characteristic of or practicing paternalism

    With a scanty supply of laws in Hellenic commonwealths or city states what an immense vista for an Aristotle, of that grand, complex, efficient machinery of law, turning out yearly thousands of laws and taboos for the paternalistic control and alleged welfare of the citizen!

    1919, Boris Sidis, The Source and Aim of Human Progress

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivebenevolent but sometimes intrusive

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Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Rhymes & wordplay

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Cite this entry
APA

paternalistic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paternalistic

MLA

“paternalistic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paternalistic. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “paternalistic,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/paternalistic.

Source: paternalistic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.