as in dowager
a dignified usually elderly woman of some rank or authority
even though she was 87, the matriarch of the family knew everything that was going on
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Recent Examples of matriarch
Flying across international waters to take matters into her own hands, Youn plays Ja-young, a Korean matriarch who wants to ensure Min follows through with his familial duties.
—
Toubee Yang, Them., 18 Apr. 2025
Five months after John Shubert’s November 1962 death on that train to Clearwater, a second widow had emerged, claiming to be the matriarch of a second John Shubert family (replete with a new, 2-year-old John Shubert).
—Frank Rich, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
The matriarch of the Mahomes family was open about her support for President Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Explore The Judds See latest videos, charts and news
The documentary delves into the nuanced relationship between The Judds matriarch Naomi Judd and her daughters Ashley and Wynonna.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
Toubee Yang, Them., 18 Apr. 2025
Five months after John Shubert’s November 1962 death on that train to Clearwater, a second widow had emerged, claiming to be the matriarch of a second John Shubert family (replete with a new, 2-year-old John Shubert).
—Frank Rich, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
The matriarch of the Mahomes family was open about her support for President Donald Trump during the 2024 campaign.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Explore The Judds See latest videos, charts and news
The documentary delves into the nuanced relationship between The Judds matriarch Naomi Judd and her daughters Ashley and Wynonna.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matriarch
Noun
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The empress dowager’s legacy Empress Dowager Ling was largely unsuccessful in her bid for power.—
Stephanie Balkwill,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2025
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Playing an acid-tongue dowager or master teacher of witchcraft came naturally to her, but what thrilled her about acting was its transformative freedom.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Sep. 2024
Noun
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But this season, showrunner Mike White pinpoints the willful decadence of the Western world, primarily through Yankees: the husband, wife, and 2.5 children of the Ratliff family, three freewheeling feminist matrons, plus a shady white bachelor and a single black mother.—
Armond White,
National Review,
9 Apr. 2025
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Unexpectedly, a character who seemed to be a stock figure — the dowdy matron, clucking over the girls in her charge — emerges as someone much richer and better, raising the show along with her.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Matriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matriarch. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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