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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of matriarch
Robbie tries to be appreciative of the young matriarch’s sacrifices.
—
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
It’s led by Francesca Annis (Lillie), who plays matriarch Ann.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
Elsewhere, Atwood was able to expand on Morticia’s (Catherine Zeta-Jones) look to align with the family’s new setting, as the matriarch finds herself at Nevermore Academy with a job in fundraising.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
The Nashville Zoo is mourning the loss of Nasha, an 11-year-old Masai giraffe, the matriarch of its herd.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
It’s led by Francesca Annis (Lillie), who plays matriarch Ann.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
Elsewhere, Atwood was able to expand on Morticia’s (Catherine Zeta-Jones) look to align with the family’s new setting, as the matriarch finds herself at Nevermore Academy with a job in fundraising.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 3 Sep. 2025
The Nashville Zoo is mourning the loss of Nasha, an 11-year-old Masai giraffe, the matriarch of its herd.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Sep. 2025
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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The two women couldn’t be more different, but when a wealthy matron is found dead of an apparent suicide on the rocky shore of Vermont’s Lake Champlain, their fraught relationship gradually turns into a productive collaboration, despite Olivia’s missteps.—
Liza Tully,
People.com,
6 July 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Matriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matriarch. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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