as in dowager
a dignified usually elderly woman of some rank or authority
even though she was 87, the matriarch of the family knew everything that was going on
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Recent Examples of matriarch
Emmy winner Helen Gallagher, who played matriarch Maeve Ryan on the ABC soap Ryan’s Hope, has died at the age of 98, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 26 Nov. 2024
Mirren will play Maeve Harrigan, Conrad’s wife and the Harrigan family matriarch.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
Brosnan in turn will play Conrad Harrigan, the head of said successful crime family based out of London for whom Harry works, while Mirren will fill the role of Maeve Harrigan, Conrad’s wife and the Harrigan family matriarch.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 27 Nov. 2024
Ariana's grandmother Marjorie is the matriarch of the Grande family.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for matriarch 
Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 26 Nov. 2024
Mirren will play Maeve Harrigan, Conrad’s wife and the Harrigan family matriarch.
—Joe Otterson, Variety, 27 Nov. 2024
Brosnan in turn will play Conrad Harrigan, the head of said successful crime family based out of London for whom Harry works, while Mirren will fill the role of Maeve Harrigan, Conrad’s wife and the Harrigan family matriarch.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 27 Nov. 2024
Ariana's grandmother Marjorie is the matriarch of the Grande family.
—Tommy McArdle, People.com, 26 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for matriarch
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Cite this Entry
“Matriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matriarch. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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