unmotherly
Lacking maternal warmth
Unmotherly describes behavior or qualities that fail to meet expectations of maternal warmth, nurturing, or care.
The word implies a deficit—coldness where tenderness is expected, neglect where attention is due: She felt guilty for her unmotherly impatience with the baby's crying.
What counts as unmotherly varies by cultural standards of motherhood.
Not paying attention
- uncaringLacking emotional concern
- absentNot in attendance
- uninvolvedNot taking part
- disengagedNot participating or invested
abandoning · irresponsible · negligent · dismissive · unavailable · preoccupied · self-absorbed · rejecting
Without affection or warmth
- distantFar away or aloof
- cold-heartedDevoid of empathy
- emotionally unavailableUnable to form bonds
- withholdingKeeping from another
unaffectionate · reserved · unemotional · frosty · icy · detached · remote · standoffish
inattentive
Not paying attention
- uncaringLacking emotional concern
- absentNot in attendance
- uninvolvedNot taking part
disengaged · abandoning · irresponsible · negligent · dismissive · unavailable · preoccupied · self-absorbed · rejecting · ignoring
unloving
Without affection or warmth
- distantFar away or aloof
- cold-heartedDevoid of empathy
- emotionally unavailableUnable to form bonds
withholding · unaffectionate · reserved · unemotional · frosty · icy · detached · remote · standoffish · unwarm
cruel
Willfully causing suffering
heartless · punitive · critical · berating · demeaning · abusive · mean · unkind · punishing · belittling