matriarchal
adjective
ma·tri·ar·chal
ˌmā-trē-ˈär-kəl 
: of, relating to, or being a matriarch or matriarchy
a matriarchal society
Johnnie Angelia King … plays a very different matriarchal figure here, imbuing hard-working Faye with passion …—
Larry T. Collins
Larry T. CollinsAs a Filipino-American, Lirio Marcelo was steeped in a matriarchal culture where there was no shortage of female role models in corporate and government realms.—Lydia Dishman
Lydia DishmanExamples of matriarchal in a Sentence
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Emma’s kind, matriarchal presence — which has been a constant in the show since season one — is lacking in the first half of this season, underscoring the impact of her separation from Joe.
—Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Wheeler said the Guild is very excited for an upcoming collaboration with the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society and its spring Row House Tour, visiting the homes designed by the Ranch’s matriarchal architect Lilian Rice.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
But while Alice checks into a hotel in the city, Lilia returns to the family home, under the matriarchal rule of her grandmother Néfissa (Salma Baccar).
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Indigenous matriarchal societies expressed spatial information through different forms of cartography.
—Melinda Laituri, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
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Lisa De Los Reyes, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
Wheeler said the Guild is very excited for an upcoming collaboration with the Rancho Santa Fe Historical Society and its spring Row House Tour, visiting the homes designed by the Ranch’s matriarchal architect Lilian Rice.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
But while Alice checks into a hotel in the city, Lilia returns to the family home, under the matriarchal rule of her grandmother Néfissa (Salma Baccar).
—Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Indigenous matriarchal societies expressed spatial information through different forms of cartography.
—Melinda Laituri, The Conversation, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for matriarchal
Cite this Entry
“Matriarchal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/matriarchal. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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