patriarchal
adjective
pa·tri·ar·chal
ˌpā-trē-ˈär-kəl 
: 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
Their respective journeys offer audiences a unique perspective on the trials and tribulations of women navigating the perils of patriarchal societies across the ages.
—
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 31 July 2025
Each of eight episodes, which run a fleet 35-ish minutes apiece, follows a woman (usually a woman of a certain age) as she is pushed to the point of incandescent fury (usually by a man, or at least by the indignities that come with living in a patriarchal society).
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 July 2025
By contrast, the artist Patriots in this book often crafted a form of patriotism that faced up to the injustice of slavery and the challenges of patriarchal society.
—Literary Hub, 17 July 2025
In a brutally patriarchal society where women had no rights in the Republic, this was a woman with status and influence.
—EW.com, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for patriarchal
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 31 July 2025
Each of eight episodes, which run a fleet 35-ish minutes apiece, follows a woman (usually a woman of a certain age) as she is pushed to the point of incandescent fury (usually by a man, or at least by the indignities that come with living in a patriarchal society).
—Judy Berman, Time, 30 July 2025
By contrast, the artist Patriots in this book often crafted a form of patriotism that faced up to the injustice of slavery and the challenges of patriarchal society.
—Literary Hub, 17 July 2025
In a brutally patriarchal society where women had no rights in the Republic, this was a woman with status and influence.
—EW.com, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for patriarchal
Cite this Entry
“Patriarchal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriarchal. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share