old woman
Gray-haired matriarch
An old woman is a woman who is elderly.
The phrase also describes someone—usually a man—who is fussy, timid, or excessively cautious: Don't be such an old woman about it.
This figurative use is disparaging to both the person described and to women generally.
Frightening elderly witch
- croneWizened old woman
- witchPractitioner of dark arts
- beldameElderly woman, often ugly
- biddyHen or pesky elder
harridan · spinster · widow · dowager · babushka · cat lady · bag lady · fairy godmother
Wisdom keeper or seasoning
- croneWizened old woman
- oracleAuthoritative wisdom source
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- counselorOne who advises
adviser · elder · storyteller · healer · herbalist · midwife · seer · mystic
Advanced in age
- agedAdvanced in years
- seniorHigher in rank
- geriatricRelating to elderly care
- octogenarianPerson in ninth decade
nonagenarian · centenarian · retiree · pensioner · gray-haired · silver-haired · white-haired · wrinkled
Female kinship group leader
- ancestorPredecessor in lineage
- progenitorAncestor or originator
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- bloodlineAncestry through generations
dynasty · heritage · dowager · queen mother · tribal elder · custodian
Female elder relative
- grannyInformal term for grandmother
- nanaInformal term for grandmother
- granInformal British elder
- nanGrandmother, in Britain
nanny · meemaw · mamaw · nonna · abuela · avo · bubbe · babushka
Deserving honor for dignity
- reveredDeeply respected, admired
- esteemedGreatly respected, admired
- respectedHeld in high regard
- dignifiedComposed and respectable
honorable · dame · madam · grande dame · doyenne · august · distinguished · time-honored
hag
Frightening elderly witch
biddy · harridan · spinster · widow · dowager · babushka · cat lady · bag lady · fairy godmother · wicked stepmother
sage
Wisdom keeper or seasoning
counselor · adviser · elder · storyteller · healer · herbalist · midwife · seer · mystic · folk wisdom
elderly
Advanced in age
octogenarian · nonagenarian · centenarian · retiree · pensioner · gray-haired · silver-haired · white-haired · wrinkled · stooped
clan mother
Female kinship group leader
- ancestorPredecessor in lineage
- progenitorAncestor or originator
- lineageDescent from progenitors
bloodline · dynasty · heritage · dowager · queen mother · tribal elder · custodian
grandma
Female elder relative
nan · nanny · meemaw · mamaw · nonna · abuela · avo · bubbe · babushka · great-grandmother
venerable
Deserving honor for dignity
dignified · honorable · dame · madam · grande dame · doyenne · august · distinguished · time-honored
old womanyoung girl
Female child, not yet adolescent
little girl · girl · young woman · baby girl · maiden
old, woman, older, women, oldest, maiden, womanhood, olden, matron