benefactress

noun

Definition of benefactressnext
as in benefactor

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar 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 benefactress The company gained a benefactress (Lois Pope), later parted ways and changed names (eventually becoming Florida Stage). — Bill Hirschman, Sun Sentinel, 14 Apr. 2026 And how much, or how little, does Belinda know about what happened to her would-be benefactress? — Dan Heching, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025 Breaking down the differences between playing the ruthless crime lord and the polished benefactress, Gasćon also noted that the role of Emilia was deceptively physical. — Elaina Patton, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2024 Instead, each week will see the top two queens will earn benefactress badges. — Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 17 May 2024 Ross resigned, at Stanford’s behest and amid great scandal, forcing Jordan to take the blame for the decision and defend his benefactress in order to save the university’s reputation. — Maia Silber, The New Yorker, 30 May 2022 She’s reunited with the local company’s benefactress, and her own first mentor and supporter, Winnie Flato. — Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 18 June 2021 Christian Temperance Union leader Frances Willard and millionaire benefactress Alva Belmont. — Lila Thulin, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for benefactress
  1. benefactor
  2. patroness
  3. donor
  4. philanthropist
Noun
  • After Gretchen Whitmer, the state’s popular Democratic governor, endorsed Stevens last week, El-Sayed explained the choice as the inevitable product of the two women’s benefactors.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
  • Working with patrons Anadol counters that anyone can have free access to the models his studio develops, and that there's nothing new about contemporary artists' relationships with rich and powerful benefactors.
    — Chloe Veltman, NPR, 29 July 2026
Definition of benefactor
Noun
  • Patroness of the United States How did Mary, as the Immaculate Conception, become patroness of the United States?
    — Bridget Retzloff, The Conversation, 2 June 2026
  • His was the first true haute couture maison, his patroness was Empress Eugénie, who made him into her court designer.
    — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Definition of patroness
Noun
  • These very same donors, Eustis said, are the ones who feel most excited to be sitting among the citizenry in Central Park, watching the beauty of public art unfold in a joyous communal atmosphere.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2026
  • Such strategies are fueling debate over whether Africa’s off-grid solar sector has reached a financial turning point, attracting mainstream investors beyond its traditional base of donor agencies and development finance institutions.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
Definition of donor
Noun
  • Su has long been a major figure in San Gabriel Valley as a political donor, philanthropist and a promoter of cultural exchanges between China and the United States.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 2 Aug. 2026
  • But for other philanthropists, extensive overhead often means a tendency to delay.
    — Sydney Lake, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of philanthropist

Browse Nearby Words

benefactors
benefactress
benefactresses
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Benefactress.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/benefactress. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of torpor

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All