as in matrons
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 matriarchs
Inouye said she was inspired to do this by none other than one of the matriarchs of the movement, Alice Waters of Berkeley’s Chez Panisse.
—
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Even outside of traditional television, the reality TV model has made millionaires of even more toxic matriarchs such as Ruby Framke, who amassed over 2 million YouTube subscribers by pimping out her children for clicks while criminally abusing them in secret.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Religious significance and interpretations In Judaism Rebekah is regarded as one of the most significant matriarchs, and she is invoked in prayer.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
At Santa Teresita’s Xokol, chef Xrysw Ruelas is a storyteller of ancestral Mexican ingredients and matriarchs.
—Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2026
Louisiana matriarchs are partial to this vanilla custard pie.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Wife Swap attempted to answer this question, with everyday families with differing lifestyles swapping matriarchs for a couple weeks.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Feb. 2026
Set in Washington Territory, circa 1854, The Abandons revolves around the matriarchs of two very different families, played by Headey and Anderson.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2026
Catherine O’Hara embodied some of the most memorable matriarchs on film and television.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026
Even outside of traditional television, the reality TV model has made millionaires of even more toxic matriarchs such as Ruby Framke, who amassed over 2 million YouTube subscribers by pimping out her children for clicks while criminally abusing them in secret.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
Religious significance and interpretations In Judaism Rebekah is regarded as one of the most significant matriarchs, and she is invoked in prayer.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 13 Mar. 2026
At Santa Teresita’s Xokol, chef Xrysw Ruelas is a storyteller of ancestral Mexican ingredients and matriarchs.
—Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Feb. 2026
Louisiana matriarchs are partial to this vanilla custard pie.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Wife Swap attempted to answer this question, with everyday families with differing lifestyles swapping matriarchs for a couple weeks.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Feb. 2026
Set in Washington Territory, circa 1854, The Abandons revolves around the matriarchs of two very different families, played by Headey and Anderson.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 31 Jan. 2026
Catherine O’Hara embodied some of the most memorable matriarchs on film and television.
—Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matriarchs
matrons
Noun
-
There was also a shift toward elaborate descriptions of what society matrons wore to events, and again, women were believed to be more able to provide these verbal illustrations.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Matriarchs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matriarchs. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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