variants
or schoolma'am
as in teacher
US, old-fashioned
a woman who teaches in a school in a small town or in the country
In the movie, she plays a doting schoolmarm in colonial New England.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of schoolmarm
University deans, schoolmarms and human resources managers penned dress codes outright forbidding the garment or relegating it to certain areas.
—
The Conversation, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2023
Visitors can relive a school experience from the early 20th century, complete with a schoolmarm and an outhouse.
—Jshortavon, cleveland, 23 July 2023
Then there’s Jeffrey Wright’s gung-ho military man, Matt Dillon’s bubbleheaded grease monkey, Steve Carell’s apologetic motel owner, Maya Hawke’s friendly schoolmarm, and Rupert Friend’s cowboy loverboy.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2023
In the music video, Gavin plays the titular cheerleader who is smitten with a girl in the program; meanwhile, Bridgers plays the pink-haired schoolmarm in charge, while popular gay comedian Caleb Hearon plays a conflicted gay coach.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2022
On hand to enforce the rules is an electronic schoolmarm called Lana, who resembles a Google Home under the influence of HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
—Judy Berman, Time, 16 Apr. 2020
The October 2019 cover of Harper’s Bazaar featured Demi Moore dressed in Victorian schoolmarm wear, replete with knotted collar and wire-rimmed glasses.
—Cintra Wilson, The New York Review of Books, 11 Feb. 2020
These disingenuous characterizations — the zealous youngster and the wise schoolmarm — are trite.
—Armond White, National Review, 20 Nov. 2019
All the the things people criticize her for — schoolmarm-ish, lecturing, dour, droning — are music to your ears.
—Jim Geraghty, National Review, 23 Sep. 2019
The Conversation, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2023
Visitors can relive a school experience from the early 20th century, complete with a schoolmarm and an outhouse.
—Jshortavon, cleveland, 23 July 2023
Then there’s Jeffrey Wright’s gung-ho military man, Matt Dillon’s bubbleheaded grease monkey, Steve Carell’s apologetic motel owner, Maya Hawke’s friendly schoolmarm, and Rupert Friend’s cowboy loverboy.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 24 May 2023
In the music video, Gavin plays the titular cheerleader who is smitten with a girl in the program; meanwhile, Bridgers plays the pink-haired schoolmarm in charge, while popular gay comedian Caleb Hearon plays a conflicted gay coach.
—Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2022
On hand to enforce the rules is an electronic schoolmarm called Lana, who resembles a Google Home under the influence of HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey.
—Judy Berman, Time, 16 Apr. 2020
The October 2019 cover of Harper’s Bazaar featured Demi Moore dressed in Victorian schoolmarm wear, replete with knotted collar and wire-rimmed glasses.
—Cintra Wilson, The New York Review of Books, 11 Feb. 2020
These disingenuous characterizations — the zealous youngster and the wise schoolmarm — are trite.
—Armond White, National Review, 20 Nov. 2019
All the the things people criticize her for — schoolmarm-ish, lecturing, dour, droning — are music to your ears.
—Jim Geraghty, National Review, 23 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for schoolmarm
Noun
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While there will be growing pains trying to enforce a new policy halfway through the school year, Schumacher said this policy will ultimately support teachers and staff.Taylor O’Connor, Kansas City Star, 15 Jan. 2025
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The high school and preschool campus, not far away, survived thanks to teachers and families who staved off flames.Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 15 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In order to get The Mikado off the ground, the two composers need to get everyone onboard: the old actors, the new boys, the producers, the choreographer, the costume designer, the stagehands, the orchestra … to say nothing of their wives and mistresses back home.Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
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That signaled that the series would become an anthology, after Season 1 starred Jake Gyllenhaal as prosecutor Rusty Sabich, who was accused of murdering his colleague and mistress.Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 29 Oct. 2024
Noun
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Expert instructors will teach you how to get started, practical uses, tips for effective prompt-writing, and mistakes to avoid.Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
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There’s no national governing body for swim instructors.Erik Vance, New York Times, 14 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near schoolmarm
Cite this Entry
“Schoolmarm.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/schoolmarm. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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