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patriarchal

[pey-tree-ahr-kuhl] / ˌpeɪ triˈɑr kəl /




ADJECTIVE
paternalistic
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Della Cruz’s stirring Ninoy standing tall against the patriarchal savagery of Renfro’s Ferdinand and the petty vindictiveness of Acasio’s well-drawn Imelda is a powerful call to action.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 20, 2026

"I think that has to be recognised but, of course, the problematic part is that they are inherently anti-democratic, misogynistic and patriarchal."

From BBC • Feb. 13, 2026

“The Mary Tyler Moore Show” casts Minneapolis as progressive and neighborly, a bustling metropolis located between stereotypical Midwestern patriarchal stubbornness and a feminist future.

From Salon • Jan. 31, 2026

"It is a way of asserting women's place in a world and a system that remains deeply patriarchal," stressed Centeno, an expert in non-verbal communication.

From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026

In the chemical brightness Milton saw the patriarchal beard, the pale, waxen cheeks, and—most tellingly—the tiny five-foot-four frame.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides




Vocabulary lists containing patriarchal


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