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
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Kreutzer cuts clunkily and repeatedly between the ongoing crises in two households, presumably implying that the men in these women’s lives are all tarred with the same patriarchal brush.
—
Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Pointing up the cinematic objectification of women, the work transformed the female body from a passive, sexualized object to an active participant in a public action in which players were forced to reckon with the roles assigned them by a patriarchal society.
—News Desk, Artforum, 15 May 2026
Yoriko, an accomplished sculptor, has invited Yuri to visit, and to sit for a sculpture — an unorthodox reunion in a patriarchal society where women’s social lives tend to be defined by the men who bind them.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 May 2026
Like the rest of the music industry back then, Motown’s internal structure was patriarchal with those positions.
—Margena A. Christian, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
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Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Pointing up the cinematic objectification of women, the work transformed the female body from a passive, sexualized object to an active participant in a public action in which players were forced to reckon with the roles assigned them by a patriarchal society.
—News Desk, Artforum, 15 May 2026
Yoriko, an accomplished sculptor, has invited Yuri to visit, and to sit for a sculpture — an unorthodox reunion in a patriarchal society where women’s social lives tend to be defined by the men who bind them.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 May 2026
Like the rest of the music industry back then, Motown’s internal structure was patriarchal with those positions.
—Margena A. Christian, The Conversation, 7 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for patriarchal
Cite this Entry
“Patriarchal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriarchal. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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