Thesaurus results for COURTESAN

courtesan

noun

ˈkȯr-tə-zən

Definition of courtesan

as in prostitute

a woman who engages in sexual activities for money the protagonist of the novel is a composite of several real-life courtesans who plied their trade among the decadent aristocracy

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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 courtesan Directed by Tara Branham, the production stars soprano Mikayla Sager in the role of the opera’s lovestruck courtesan, Violetta, and WooYoung Yoon sings the role of Alfredo Germont. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026 Soprano Amanda Woodbury sings the lead role in Verdi's opera about a courtesan in Paris. — Jim Higgins, jsonline.com, 25 Mar. 2026 Kidman made audiences weep as Satine, the beautiful courtesan who is the star of the eponymous club in turn-of-the-century Paris. — Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Mar. 2026 An age-old, decidedly protean legend of an illicit love affair between Prince Salim (who ascended the throne as Jahangir) and a courtesan named Anarkali took its most recognizable form in the 1922 Urdu-language stage play Anarkali by Imtiaz Ali Taj. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for courtesan

Recent Examples of Synonyms for courtesan

Noun

One of the men was a twenty-one-year-old Nazi stormtrooper called Horst Wessel, the son of a Protestant military chaplain, who had abandoned his home and his law studies at university to live with a young prostitute, Erna Jaenichen.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2026
The last crime, a blackmail scheme that involved hiring a prostitute to seduce his sister’s husband, suggests a dubious approach to conflict management.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of prostitute

Noun

Depending on what the alleged hooker’s name was, maybe York was just trying to stay under the Valerie cap?

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026
Skipper and scrumhalf Lucu darted over after a strong run into contact from his hooker Lamothe and touched down on the half-hour to score France’s fourth try, securing a bonus competition point.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026

Definition of hooker

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courteousness

courtesan

courtesans

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“Courtesan.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/courtesan. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of courtesan

noun

Example Sentences

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