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
Back in New York City, Stacy Clyburn (Pfeiffer) is the matriarch of a splintering clan.
—
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
With Thurman leaving no crumbs in her performance as the revenge-seeking matriarch of criminals, she is complimented by a talented ensemble of young actresses.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
The original matriarch of the expansive New Orleans culinary family had a gift for identifying talent, tapping chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Paul Prudhomme to lead Commander’s.
—Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
The actress would win three Emmy Awards for Best Actress as the Sopranos family matriarch.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026
With Thurman leaving no crumbs in her performance as the revenge-seeking matriarch of criminals, she is complimented by a talented ensemble of young actresses.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 13 Mar. 2026
The original matriarch of the expansive New Orleans culinary family had a gift for identifying talent, tapping chefs like Emeril Lagasse and Paul Prudhomme to lead Commander’s.
—Chelsea Brasted, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
The actress would win three Emmy Awards for Best Actress as the Sopranos family matriarch.
—Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matriarch
Noun
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The show’s underpinned by the differences in character and country of Lady Cora and her formidable mother-in-law, the dowager Countess Violet Crawley, played by the equally formidable and much missed Dame Maggie Smith.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
22 July 2025
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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
Noun
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As the movie begins, Armando takes shelter in a Recife safehouse, overseen by a cigarette-ripping matron called Dona Sebastiana and populated by refugees navigating their own unspecified troubles.—
Michael Snyder,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
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Only 40 guests were invited to the wedding, including John’s cousin Anthony Radziwill (who served as his best man); John’s sister, Caroline Kennedy (Carolyn’s matron of honour), and her husband, Edwin Schlossberg; and their kids, Jack (the ring bearer), Rose and Tatiana (both flower girls).—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Matriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matriarch. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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