PATRIARCHAL Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

patriarchal

adjective

Definition of patriarchal

as in clerical

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 Nacer is quite good at variations of patriarchal obliviousness, and Pebdani suffuses her women with streaks of guilt. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026 One protester attended the demonstration dressed as a character from The Handmaid’s Tale, a dystopian television series about women in a patriarchal society. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 8 Oct. 2026 Are the Norwegian authorities concerned for children’s safety — or are they offended by this family’s rigidly patriarchal beliefs, which include intolerance toward homosexuality? — Tim Grierson, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 Us women have had good reason to be wary of female safety in a patriarchal world. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patriarchal

Recent Examples of Synonyms for patriarchal

Adjective

Tournament eligibility should be based on a team's record, not on clerical errors.

— CBS News, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026
Survivors say the Vatican has not announced a decision on his clerical status despite receiving a formal report from the Diocese of Morón.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of clerical

Adjective

Beyond his role within the church, the Pope is also a key international figure, frequently speaking out on high-profile topics such as artificial intelligence and immigration, and making apostolic journeys abroad.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
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

Definition of apostolic

Adjective

Researchers in China found that repeatedly applying gentle pressure to the shinbones of elderly mice improved their strength, coordination, and performance on memory tests.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
Hours earlier, Indiana executed a man for killing two children by setting a house fire in 2010, and in Alabama, a man received the last lethal injection of the day for his conviction in the killing of an elderly man and woman in a home robbery.

— KIM CHANDLER, Arkansas Online, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of elderly

Adjective

The Illinois native returned to his priestly roots with his last TV appearance as Father Tobias on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives.

— Rachel Flynn, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026
Parsi priesthood is hereditary, meaning all the boys here have been born into priestly families.

— Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 21 June 2026

Definition of priestly

Adjective

The company also used non-compete agreements restricting employees from joining rivals for two years, as part of their employment contracts, with senior employees holding valuable technical expertise likely facing closer scrutiny.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026
Carpenter is a senior account adviser at ATS Communications and has served on the Placer County Parks and Open Spaces Commission.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of senior

Adjective

From November 6 to 17, the pope is scheduled to take 14 flights (including two in a helicopter), give 36 speeches and participate in around 50 events in what is one of the most intense papal trips of recent years.

— Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026
West initially imagined his look through the imagery of the early papacy—particularly the period when the papal court moved from Rome to Avignon.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of papal

Adjective

Gara lives in a deeply patriarchal culture, where violence by men can shatter the lives of women, yet as a matriarchal figure, Gara embodies qualities of Sinjajevina itself.

— Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
With Madonna so much in the news and much chatter about the coming of a matriarchal age, breasts have come to the fore and the brassiere has once again come out from under.

— Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of matriarchal

Browse Nearby Words

patriarch

patriarchal

patriarchs

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Patriarchal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patriarchal. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of patriarchal

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

wabi-sabi

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

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

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes