parentless
Lacking mother, father
Parentless means having no parents, whether through death, abandonment, or unknown origins.
The word describes orphans and foundlings but also applies figuratively to things lacking a source or origin: a parentless idea with no clear antecedent.
Less common than orphaned, parentless emphasizes the state of being without rather than the loss itself.
Abandoned child discovered
- abandonedLeft behind completely
- adopteeOne legally taken in
- fosteredPromoted growth of
- wardProtected person; division
bereaved · waif · castaway · destitute · neglected · displaced · homeless · vulnerable
Encourage development of
- adoptionLegal family formation
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- custodyProtective care or control
- wardProtected person; division
shelter · surrogate · orphanage · placement · institutionalized · wardship · caregiver
Able to provide independently
- autonomousSelf-directed and free
- self-sufficientAble to provide independently
- self-madeSuccessful through own efforts
- resourcefulSkilled at solving problems
unaided · self-directed · self-supporting · emancipated · unguided · freestanding · bootstrapped · individualistic
foundling
Abandoned child discovered
ward · bereaved · waif · castaway · destitute · neglected · displaced · homeless · vulnerable · forlorn
foster
Encourage development of
- adoptionLegal family formation
- guardianProtective caretaker of another
- custodyProtective care or control
ward · shelter · surrogate · orphanage · placement · institutionalized · wardship · caregiver
self-reliant
Able to provide independently
- autonomousSelf-directed and free
- self-sufficientAble to provide independently
- self-madeSuccessful through own efforts
resourceful · unaided · self-directed · self-supporting · emancipated · unguided · freestanding · bootstrapped · individualistic · self-starter
- family lossabandonment, child abandonment, orphanage, foundling, waif