variants
or schoolma'am
as in teacher
US, old-fashioned
a woman who teaches in a school in a small town or in the country
In the movie, she plays a doting schoolmarm in colonial New England.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of schoolmarm
No ruler-wielding schoolmarm can impart the urgency of learning the way hunger can.
—
John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
This, to Newsom, is being strong; the right are the fainthearted schoolmarms now.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board took note of the hard-right’s distress, let down its tightly wound schoolmarm bun and snickered right out loud.
—Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025
The search for a missing schoolmarm is the focus of an escape room experience at the Lanesfield School, a historic one-room schoolhouse in Edgerton.
—Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2025
University deans, schoolmarms and human resources managers penned dress codes outright forbidding the garment or relegating it to certain areas.
—The Conversation, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2023
Visitors can relive a school experience from the early 20th century, complete with a schoolmarm and an outhouse.
—Jshortavon, cleveland, 23 July 2023
Then there’s Jeffrey Wright’s gung-ho military man, Matt Dillon’s bubbleheaded grease monkey, Steve Carell’s apologetic motel owner, Maya Hawke’s friendly schoolmarm, and Rupert Friend’s cowboy loverboy.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2023
In the music video, Gavin plays the titular cheerleader who is smitten with a girl in the program; meanwhile, Bridgers plays the pink-haired schoolmarm in charge, while popular gay comedian Caleb Hearon plays a conflicted gay coach.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2022
John Phillips, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
This, to Newsom, is being strong; the right are the fainthearted schoolmarms now.
—Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2026
The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board took note of the hard-right’s distress, let down its tightly wound schoolmarm bun and snickered right out loud.
—Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025
The search for a missing schoolmarm is the focus of an escape room experience at the Lanesfield School, a historic one-room schoolhouse in Edgerton.
—Beth Lipoff, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2025
University deans, schoolmarms and human resources managers penned dress codes outright forbidding the garment or relegating it to certain areas.
—The Conversation, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2023
Visitors can relive a school experience from the early 20th century, complete with a schoolmarm and an outhouse.
—Jshortavon, cleveland, 23 July 2023
Then there’s Jeffrey Wright’s gung-ho military man, Matt Dillon’s bubbleheaded grease monkey, Steve Carell’s apologetic motel owner, Maya Hawke’s friendly schoolmarm, and Rupert Friend’s cowboy loverboy.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2023
In the music video, Gavin plays the titular cheerleader who is smitten with a girl in the program; meanwhile, Bridgers plays the pink-haired schoolmarm in charge, while popular gay comedian Caleb Hearon plays a conflicted gay coach.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for schoolmarm
Noun
-
Deputies responded to Roye-Williams Elementary School in Havre De Grace for reports of an assault between a student and two teachers, which resulted in the teachers suffering non-life-threatening injuries.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
-
Other educators included white teachers from the South and the North, sent by churches and aid societies.—
Rodney Coates,
The Conversation,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
Oziel’s mistress, Judalon Smyth, learned about the confessions and informed the police.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2026
-
Why does the mistress get to do wrong and flaunt it?—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Previously, Alix Earle, Jake Shane, Anastasia Karanikolaou and Stella Jones shared their own updates at sea with Alo, from fitness sessions with wellness instructors to below-deck getting ready videos.—
Joe Bobowicz,
Vogue,
18 June 2026
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Nine were experienced skydivers, and the other two were about go on tandem jumps with instructor, officials said.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Schoolmarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schoolmarm. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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