as in dowager
a dignified usually elderly woman of some rank or authority
the matron firmly ordered the rowdy little boys back to their seats
Synonyms & Similar 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 matron
Unexpectedly, a character who seemed to be a stock figure — the dowdy matron, clucking over the girls in her charge — emerges as someone much richer and better, raising the show along with her.
—
Jesse Green, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Prior to Wells’ appointment in 1910, national women’s groups had convinced officials in multiple cities, including Jersey City, Chicago and Boston, to employ female police matrons at jails, psychiatric hospitals and other public law enforcement institutions.
—Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
Nonetheless, the position of policewoman was such a resounding public relations success that Los Angeles soon expanded its roster to three female police officers and three police matrons.
—Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
Photos in front of the pulpit captured West’s her childhood and youthful beauty as well as the elegant matron who would come to be called Mother Rose by both her family and many students at her alma mater, Sacramento High School.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for matron
Jesse Green, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Prior to Wells’ appointment in 1910, national women’s groups had convinced officials in multiple cities, including Jersey City, Chicago and Boston, to employ female police matrons at jails, psychiatric hospitals and other public law enforcement institutions.
—Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
Nonetheless, the position of policewoman was such a resounding public relations success that Los Angeles soon expanded its roster to three female police officers and three police matrons.
—Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
Photos in front of the pulpit captured West’s her childhood and youthful beauty as well as the elegant matron who would come to be called Mother Rose by both her family and many students at her alma mater, Sacramento High School.
—Cathie Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for matron
Recent Examples of Synonyms for matron
dowager
Noun
-
The show’s underpinned by the differences in character and country of Lady Cora and her formidable mother-in-law, the dowager Countess Violet Crawley, played by the equally formidable and much missed Dame Maggie Smith.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
22 July 2025
-
The empress dowager’s legacy Empress Dowager Ling was largely unsuccessful in her bid for power.—
Stephanie Balkwill,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Matron.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/matron. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share