dame

noun

ˈdām How to pronounce dame (audio)
Definition of damenext
1
as in dowager
a dignified usually elderly woman of some rank or authority as the grand dames of local society, they determined which charities received support

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in lady
a woman of high birth or social position the lords and dames of the shire eagerly awaited the royal visit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 dame Condado Vanderbilt Hotel After a century reigning seaside over San Juan’s upscale Condado neighborhood, Condado Vanderbilt Hotel has handily earned its title as the island’s grand dame. — Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026 Ariane lies to him and pretends to be an experienced dame and never reveals her real name. — Air Mail, 18 July 2026 Another grand Historic District dame, The Pamlico House is a Colonial Revival home tucked away on a quiet residential street just blocks from the main drag. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 July 2026 She was recognized for her services to the performing arts by Queen Elizabeth, who made Andrews a dame in 2000. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for dame
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dame
  1. dowager
  2. lady
  3. matron
  4. queen
  5. countess
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
Definition of dowager
Noun
  • The young ladies in the show are calling each other out and keeping each other accountable.
    — Selome Hailu, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Wait, so this hot lady is the sole survivor from her girls’ trip group?
    — Emma Specter, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of lady
Noun
  • The driver and bus matron apparently bypassed the daycare location and mistakenly dropped Ka'Mylah somewhere in between, and the child navigated her way home on her own.
    — Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • An extremely unattractive teenage girl who resembled a forty-year-old matron in a women’s prison rather than a young woman fresh on the road to self-discovery approached me.
    — Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of matron
Noun
  • Though the film initially received criticism for its unconventional portrayal of the young French queen (intentionally opting for an anachronistically stylish over stuffily period-appropriate approach), 20 years later, its legacy is undeniable.
    — Stephanie Sporn, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Now, the king and queen apparently want to bury the hatchet with Harry and Meghan—but the same can’t be said for Prince William.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of queen
Noun
  • When Bridget and Lizzie meet in Monster, the two bond over a French book that Bridget has with her, an account of the 16th-century countess Elizabeth Báthory (called Elizabetta on the show, also played by Vicky Krieps).
    — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The countess’ tale highlights the obsession with women’s appearances across time while adding to the show’s fun campiness and gothic nature.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of countess

Phrases Containing dame

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dame
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Cite this Entry

“Dame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dame. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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