patriarchal

adjective

pa·​tri·​ar·​chal ˌpā-trē-ˈär-kəl How to pronounce patriarchal (audio)
Synonyms of patriarchalnext
: of, relating to, or being a patriarch or patriarchy
a patriarchal culture
a patriarchal religion

Examples of patriarchal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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And then Grisebach uses that distaff twist once again, to comment more broadly on the patriarchal nature and gendered violence of power structures corrupted by historical conflict. Jessica Kiang, Variety, 22 May 2026 Lord Capulet is driven by patriarchal power and social standing. Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026 Sometimes, these first steps are small, such as learning to accept her aging body without forcing it to fit a patriarchal, and frankly prepubescent, beauty standard. Literary Hub, 20 May 2026 Life Karabash, born as Irena Ivanova, grew up in a village called Aleksandrovo in Lovech province, a place where patriarchal norms were deeply ingrained—a fact that would later influence themes in her writing. Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for patriarchal

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of patriarchal was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Patriarchal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriarchal. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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