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
The matriarch with the mane of long red hair would open her home on FM 1826 (across from the current Salt Lick) to a select few after church services, serving lunches at the round oak table adjacent to her kitchen.
—
Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
The family matriarch, Belle (Maria Bello), has been quietly making her own moves with her family's biggest rivals, the Parkers.
—Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 29 June 2025
The crime-thriller centers on Babs Dionne, a proud Franco-American, doting grandmother, and vicious crime matriarch, who rules her small town of Waterville, Maine, with an iron fist.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 27 June 2025
The matriarch started smelling fruit, weighing the spiky samples with her hands and haggling with the seller.
—Tom Downey, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
The family matriarch, Belle (Maria Bello), has been quietly making her own moves with her family's biggest rivals, the Parkers.
—Allison Degrushe Published, EW.com, 29 June 2025
The crime-thriller centers on Babs Dionne, a proud Franco-American, doting grandmother, and vicious crime matriarch, who rules her small town of Waterville, Maine, with an iron fist.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 27 June 2025
The matriarch started smelling fruit, weighing the spiky samples with her hands and haggling with the seller.
—Tom Downey, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matriarch
Noun
-
The empress dowager’s legacy Empress Dowager Ling was largely unsuccessful in her bid for power.—
Stephanie Balkwill,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2025
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Playing an acid-tongue dowager or master teacher of witchcraft came naturally to her, but what thrilled her about acting was its transformative freedom.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Sep. 2024
Noun
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Mary Thema, a clinical matron at Kadoma General Hospital, says Kelly’s case underlines this challenge.—
Cynthia Tully,
Forbes.com,
14 May 2025
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The aristocratic matron in question, Lady Hemphill, would often accompany her husband to the Huston estate, located in the rugged pastures and boglands of County Galway, for dinner parties and hunting expeditions.—
Erik Morse,
Vogue,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Matriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matriarch. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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