variants or beldame
as in witch
a mean or ugly old woman knocking on the beldam's door on Halloween was once an annual ritual for the kids in the neighborhood

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for beldam
Noun
  • That lake, according to legend, was created after a local sorcerer and a witch had a feud that resulted in the latter falling to her death and causing a huge indentation in the earth that became filled with water.
    John Mariani, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
  • Ariana Grande took over the role of the popular good witch, while Cynthia Erivo portrays her green counterpart, in the two films.
    Nicholas Rice, People.com, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • Hahn: Agatha wears this locket around her neck with Hecate — the maiden, mother, crone.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 12 June 2025
  • Though the character is traditionally played as a cackling crone, she'll be glammed-up for Wednesday.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • That lady is really the aforementioned murderous hag (Meredith Binder), her false veneer of youthful beauty reinforced by a magic mirror’s flattering (if also caustic) topless female spirits, and sustained via grisly methods seemingly inspired by Elizabeth Bathory.
    Dennis Harvey, Variety, 2 May 2025
  • Several get small charts offering ideas to inspire how the monster could be used, such as what strange price a hag might have for its secrets or what an owlbear might keep in its den beyond treasure.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Beldam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beldam. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

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