as in petticoat
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Recent Examples of distaff
An Elm Drive victory would give trainer Phil D’Amato a very successful weekend on the distaff side of the ledger.
—
Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2021
The personal rivalries on the distaff side became apparent during the transition: When the Bushes won, Nancy did not invite Barbara to tour the living quarters until January 11 — much later than was traditional.
—NBC News, 21 Apr. 2018
Even if a separate, distaff canon is built, the atmosphere against which it’s being constructed is, gradually, becoming more integrated.
—Wesley Morris, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2017
And behind the camera, Scherfig has created something of a distaff utopia: both the book and the screenplay were written by women.
—Richard Lawson, VanityFair.com, 6 Apr. 2017
Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2021
The personal rivalries on the distaff side became apparent during the transition: When the Bushes won, Nancy did not invite Barbara to tour the living quarters until January 11 — much later than was traditional.
—NBC News, 21 Apr. 2018
Even if a separate, distaff canon is built, the atmosphere against which it’s being constructed is, gradually, becoming more integrated.
—Wesley Morris, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2017
And behind the camera, Scherfig has created something of a distaff utopia: both the book and the screenplay were written by women.
—Richard Lawson, VanityFair.com, 6 Apr. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distaff
Adjective
-
The boys club that comprises this year’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class also contains a female solo musician who has always been a striking presence: Cyndi Lauper.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
-
The 1976 song was a subversive celebration of female sexuality and rejection of the patriarchy by an all-female band.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Think elegant, ladylike pairings that balance the volume with polish, minimalist all-black ensembles that let the silhouette take center stage, and playful mix-and-match looks anchored by cool-girl sneakers.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
18 Apr. 2025
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Here, contexts are reconfigured and layering is an act that’s less about pairing and more about juxtaposition which creates a ladylike silhouette.—
Gemma A. Williams,
Forbes,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distaff.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distaff. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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