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
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
Development • Dirty Hands (Lebanon/Qatar) by Georges Hazim and Maya Dagher, a dark comedy, about four desperate housewives who jump at the chance to make some quick cash.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
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
Development • Dirty Hands (Lebanon/Qatar) by Georges Hazim and Maya Dagher, a dark comedy, about four desperate housewives who jump at the chance to make some quick cash.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 26 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for housewives
Noun
-
Essian kids grow up in extended matrilineal families, with no husbands or wives.—
Stephanie Burt,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
So are their girlfriends and wives, who support their beaus in stadiums and at home.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Supporters of the bill have said it is needed to protect women and girls.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Dozens of women in hijabs and men in clutching paper cups stood inside Turath Coffee, 9916 College Blvd.—
Jenna Thompson
April 1,
Kansas City Star,
1 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 7 Apr. 2026.
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