PATRIARCHAL Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

patriarchal

adjective

Definition of patriarchal

as in clerical

Related Words

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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

Leo and Dylan were both seen meeting in the Vatican’s apostolic palace, the pope’s residence, on Wednesday.

— Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 4 Nov. 2026
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

Definition of apostolic

Adjective

In the sprawling Cité Soleil seaside slum, gang members beheaded at least 19 people, including 12 elderly women, in early August.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
The parliament claimed that hundreds of Saudi airstrikes over the previous five days had killed or wounded more than 300 people, most of them children, women and elderly people.

— Clarissa Ward, CNN Money, 12 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

But the churn rate for teachers isn’t necessarily an issue, according to Robert Pondiscio, a senior fellow at the prominent conservative-leaning think tank American Enterprise Institute, who wrote a book on the school.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 12 Nov. 2026
Beck didn’t take over as the full-time starter until his junior season at Georgia and transferred to Miami after regressing during his senior season.

— Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Nov. 2026

Definition of senior

Adjective

The Vatican estimated that around 2 million people turned out for the Mass, the latest of the record-setting crowds who have welcomed Leo on the first papal visit to Argentina in nearly four decades.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Nov. 2026
After nearly 40 years without a papal visit, Córdoba was chosen to host Leo because of its central location.

— Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 10 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

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patriarch

patriarchal

patriarchs

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Style

“Patriarchal.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patriarchal. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of patriarchal

adjective

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