as in wives
a married woman in charge of a household
She was career-minded and never intended to be a 1950s style housewife.
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Recent Examples of housewives
Wondering how the Ocean State's housewives celebrated Easter weekend?
—
Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 6 Apr. 2026
At one point housewives were admonished not to shake their dust mops outdoors lest that contribute to smog.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
On Bravo, Vanderpump Rules doubled down on filming when Scandoval dropped, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for these Utah housewives.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
Many of her stories are about slices of everyday life, mixed with memories and philosophical reflections about the self and identity—from young women to housewives to women of old age.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
One of its peak popularity periods was in 1937, when Jewish housewives standardized the game and created the National Mah Jongg League.
—Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2026
Almutairi said the potential market goes far beyond traditional bank customers, from housewives with informal income, to university students, freelancers, and employees at small businesses who lack access to credit.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the 14-minute Super Afghan Gym is set in a gym in downtown Kabul, which features posters of muscular men on the walls, where a group of housewives come together during the one hour of the day reserved for women.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 Feb. 2026
In a gym in downtown Kabul, a group of housewives gather during the only hour of the day reserved for women.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 6 Apr. 2026
At one point housewives were admonished not to shake their dust mops outdoors lest that contribute to smog.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026
On Bravo, Vanderpump Rules doubled down on filming when Scandoval dropped, but that doesn’t seem to be the case for these Utah housewives.
—Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 26 Mar. 2026
Many of her stories are about slices of everyday life, mixed with memories and philosophical reflections about the self and identity—from young women to housewives to women of old age.
—Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
One of its peak popularity periods was in 1937, when Jewish housewives standardized the game and created the National Mah Jongg League.
—Charlotte Observer, 1 Mar. 2026
Almutairi said the potential market goes far beyond traditional bank customers, from housewives with informal income, to university students, freelancers, and employees at small businesses who lack access to credit.
—Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 3 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, the 14-minute Super Afghan Gym is set in a gym in downtown Kabul, which features posters of muscular men on the walls, where a group of housewives come together during the one hour of the day reserved for women.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 1 Feb. 2026
In a gym in downtown Kabul, a group of housewives gather during the only hour of the day reserved for women.
—Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for housewives
Noun
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Later, the antique models — the Commanders with more seniority and more gold cords hanging from their epaulettes — will come to select their second or third wives.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
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Several other memorial services followed shortly after, including one in Los Angeles organized by Prince’s ex-wives, Manuela Testolini and Mayte Garcia.—
Alex Gurley,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
One of the places that Abraaj targeted was the Nairobi Women’s Hospital in Kenya, a chain of nine for-profit hospitals that treat men as well as women.—
Hettie O'Brien,
The Dial,
21 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, millions of Americans lack ready access to documents like passports or birth certificates, and tens of millions — particularly married women whose names have changed — could face additional hurdles under stricter requirements.—
Katherine “Kitty” Donovan,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Around him sat ten women—all of them homemakers and nurses—and one seven-year-old girl.—
Joshua Sharpe
August 6,
Literary Hub,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Housewives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/housewives. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
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