princeling

noun

prince·​ling ˈprin(t)s-liŋ How to pronounce princeling (audio)
Synonyms of princelingnext
: a petty or insignificant prince

Examples of princeling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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His son grew up a princeling in his father’s shadow, undergoing none of the hardship that forged the father’s authority. Karim Sadjadpour, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2026 The shift from charming, cozy fantasy to life-or-death Trial by Seven and sneering Targaryen princelings was also handled so deftly, and the little moments of comic relief remind us that despite how grim things may be now, this is still not all gloom and doom. Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 7 Feb. 2026 And as my colleague Alison Willmore wrote in her review, Dune: Part Two is really Zendaya’s movie, since Chani’s reactions to Paul’s arc are so much more engrossing than anything the Atreides princeling gets up to. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 25 Dec. 2025 Some princelings were profoundly disillusioned and decided on another life choice, which was to have fun and make money. Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for princeling

Word History

First Known Use

1796, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of princeling was in 1796

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Cite this Entry

“Princeling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/princeling. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

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