as in polygamy
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Recent Examples of polygyny
In Queen Mother, Farmer takes a clear-eyed look at Moore’s foibles, noting her absenteeism during her son’s formative years, her embrace of patriarchal hierarchy in Black communities, and her exhortations for Black women to embrace polygyny to facilitate nation building.
—
Dara T. Mathis, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025
In short, there remain multiple ways polygyny can be harmful.
—David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
For generations, anthropologists have argued whether humans are evolved for monogamy or some other mating system, such as polygyny, polyandry or promiscuity.
—Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
For generations, anthropologists have argued whether humans are evolved for monogamy or some other mating system, such as polygyny, polyandry or promiscuity.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
What does the contemporary West African practice of polygyny—one man, many wives—have to do with the trans-Atlantic slave trade?
—Tunku Varadarajan, wsj.com, 20 Apr. 2023
His son has been married four times and resurrected the long-dead institution of polygyny.
—Tamara Loos, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2020
Dara T. Mathis, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025
In short, there remain multiple ways polygyny can be harmful.
—David W. Lawson, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2025
For generations, anthropologists have argued whether humans are evolved for monogamy or some other mating system, such as polygyny, polyandry or promiscuity.
—Nathan H. Lents, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
For generations, anthropologists have argued whether humans are evolved for monogamy or some other mating system, such as polygyny, polyandry or promiscuity.
—Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025
What does the contemporary West African practice of polygyny—one man, many wives—have to do with the trans-Atlantic slave trade?
—Tunku Varadarajan, wsj.com, 20 Apr. 2023
His son has been married four times and resurrected the long-dead institution of polygyny.
—Tamara Loos, Foreign Affairs, 7 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polygyny
Noun
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Debuting on the network in 2010, four years after American culture became obsessed with polygamy thanks to HBO’s Big Love, the series has since gained a significant following and is still airing.—
Ilana Gordon,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Dec. 2025
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The history of the thing is interesting but vague—a general shift towards monogamy started about three and a half million years ago, but most human societies (around 85% of them) have permitted polygamy too.—
Eva Wiseman,
Vogue,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
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One particular enemy of Gauguin’s was Bishop Martin, a Catholic priest on Hiva Oa who did his best to stomp out local custom, forbidding tattooing, Polynesian dancing, and the customary practice of polyandry.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
New Yorker,
11 July 2025
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For generations, anthropologists have argued whether humans are evolved for monogamy or some other mating system, such as polygyny, polyandry or promiscuity.—
Nathan H. Lents,
Smithsonian Magazine,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
North Carolina classifies bigamy as a Class I felony, and the charge can result in imprisonment for anyone who knowingly marries while still legally married to another person.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
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Three wives in three counties may just be the start for a man facing felony bigamy charges in North Carolina, investigators say.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Several marriages occurred from March 2024 until Feb. 8, 2025, when court documents say Zumba tried to recruit someone still in the Navy.—
Cara Tabachnick,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
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The longtime Style section reporter defied gender stereotypes, covering current affairs and writing books about the Vietnam War and power-couple marriages.—
Washington Post staff,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Peter’s only vanquishing is an ego-death, as he’s forced to release his fixation with monogamy and acknowledge the complexities of relationships.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Feb. 2026
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This one seems to be monogamy, this one is, like, three or four baby mothers.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Polygyny.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polygyny. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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