The AI-powered English dictionary
comparative more matronly, superlative most matronly
In the capacity of a matron; serving as a housekeeper or head nurse. examples
Exuding the authority, wisdom, power, and intelligence of an experienced woman. quotations examples
the matronly upper arms girls know about life and love and losing
c. 1977, Janeane Garofalo, a skit
Having the appearance of a mature woman, often of larger physical stature and somewhat unkempt or dowdy. quotations examples
Gone is her matronly gray frizzy hair and those bushy brows, frumpy frock and old lady pearls.
27 April 2009, LA Times
In the manner of a matron. quotations examples
The mother dressed matronly, in a bonnet and in black, always sat between her two big daughters, firm, directing, and repressed.
1906, Gertrude Stein, Three Lives, page 166
She was the same height and weight as Mother and had the same hairdo and dressed matronly like her. It was scary. She looked so much like Mother.
2004, Irene Kai, The golden mountain: beyond the American dream, page 214
“I had to dress matronly to get the position. I've had trouble with that before. I have actually been turned away for a position as stewardess because I was too pretty.”
2011 May 25, Kellianne Sweeny, The One That Got Away, page 106