patriarchal

adjective

Definition of patriarchalnext
1
as in clerical

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in older

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of patriarchal Of course, with Aegon still breathing, the High Septon is less inclined than ever to anoint a woman in defiance of the deeply patriarchal Faith of the Seven. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 This is a dynastic struggle rooted in antiquated monarchical, patriarchal belief systems. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 More determined than ever, Elsa challenges patriarchal structures and carves out a path for her independent motherhood. — Marta Balaga, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026 More determined than ever, Elsa challenges patriarchal structures and creates space for her autonomous motherhood. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patriarchal
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patriarchal
  1. clerical
  2. geriatric
  3. apostolic
  4. elderly
  5. priestly
  6. senior
  7. papal
  8. matriarchal
Adjective
  • The best family offices do not treat trust administration as clerical work.
    — Michael Gold CFP, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Critics of Iran's clerical rulers hoped initially that Iran's government would collapse amid a bombing campaign that killed Iran's most senior military and religious officials, including its supreme leader.
    — Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of clerical
Adjective
  • His main competition, the geriatric Aaron Jones, should be relegated to backup duty.
    — Bill Reinhard, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The geriatric ERs also saved Medicare up to about $3,000 a visit, according to an earlier study Hwang led.
    — Paula Span, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of geriatric
Adjective
  • On June 2, 1979, Pope John Paul II set out from Rome on an apostolic journey, as papal trips away from the Vatican are called.
    — Paul Elie, New Yorker, 8 May 2026
  • The leader of the Roman Catholic Church directed his remarks to university students at the Catholic University of Central Africa in Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, during an 11-day apostolic journey in Africa.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of apostolic
Adjective
  • Tamang said her family was able to rush to higher ground, carrying her elderly grandmother with them, but their home was washed away.
    — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The second half of the novel focuses on Alice, an elderly woman who suffers from dementia.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of elderly
Adjective
  • Parsi priesthood is hereditary, meaning all the boys here have been born into priestly families.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
  • Before heading to seminary and taking up the priestly collar, Borba enjoyed red carpets and professional acclaim for his business acumen.
    — David Begnaud, CBS News, 15 June 2026
Definition of priestly
Adjective
  • There isn’t room on a roster to list all the positions where North Chicago senior Amari Earl could play in a single game.
    — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Iran is determined to smother any internal unrest Rezaei’s appointment came in a recent set of decrees by the supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, that formally set Iran’s new senior leadership, including top military posts.
    — Lee Keath, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of senior
Adjective
  • For Leo, that distinction comes from making the highly recognizable papal wardrobe part of his own public style.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Ghost have shared the new trailer for 2 Big to Rig, the upcoming concert film documenting the Swedish papal heavy metal outfit’s 2025 gigs in Mexico City.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026
Definition of papal
Adjective
  • Lemurs also have complex social hierarchies and are uniquely matriarchal for primates.
    — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 July 2026
  • Sinclaire has an agent for a memoir, and Gonzalez is thinking about writing a book about matriarchal communities.
    — Kayla Levy, Curbed, 25 June 2026
Definition of matriarchal

Browse Nearby Words

patriarch
patriarchal
patriarchs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Patriarchal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patriarchal. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All