widow

noun

Definition of widownext
as in wife

Related Words

Relevance

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 widow Attorneys for the media and for Kirk’s widow, Erika, who has attended this week’s hearing, had urged the judge to make Twiggs’ statements and other evidence public. — Hannah Schoenbaum, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 During Thursday's hearing, an attorney for Kirk's family, including his widow, Erica Kirk, made an impassioned plea to Graf to allow prosecutors to play the full video in open court without redactions. — Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 9 July 2026 The drama is centered on Michel’s engagement to Irène Bergmann, a widow a few years older than he, who lives in the nearby town of Percy with her mother. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 9 July 2026 At the March sentencing hearing, Stephens’ widow lambasted the plea deal as inadequate. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 9 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for widow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for widow
  1. wife
  2. spouse
  3. madam
Noun
  • The Seasnake, who has lost his wife and his heir to her war, is justifiably livid.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 6 July 2026
  • His third wife, Cuban model Sheila Mariño, gave birth to their son in June.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of wife
Noun
  • For example, stalking a spouse is generally charged as a misdemeanor for a first offense.
    — Steve Maugeri, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • The investment visa provides tax benefits and exemptions, plus the ability to include a spouse and dependents without a minimum stay requirement.
    — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 14 July 2026
Definition of spouse
Noun
  • Ladies’ first big blowup concerns a rumor that an old fair-weather friend of Myka’s is a madam.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
  • In season 5, Leslie Grossman joins the series as Flossie, a powerful New York City madam.
    — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of madam

Browse Nearby Words

widish
widow
widowed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Widow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/widow. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on widow

Nglish: Translation of widow for Spanish Speakers

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

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
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
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All