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

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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 Now Alicia, a New York dame, drifted over to the orange jackets. — Anand Giridharadas, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026 Still, the biography offers a nearly contemporary portrait of one of Western literature’s grand dames, as well as some useful context around the publication of her novels, beginning with Sense and Sensibility. — Vogue, 10 Sep. 2026 The English actress — officially a dame as of 2015 — studied at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art before making her screen debut in 1951. — Maggie Fremont, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Aug. 2026 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 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 ladies’ restroom at work has a push-open door; there is no latch and no handle on the outside.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 30 Oct. 2026
  • The Gilded Age would generally prefer that nothing disrupt the basic contours of its serene status quo, where ladies in hats sit in drawing rooms and deliver smiling rebukes of one another’s decor.
    — Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of lady
Noun
  • The provisions ensure that if a bus driver or matron is laid off because their company loses a contract, that employee is prioritized during the hiring process for a new company with the same wage and benefits.
    — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Investigators also found that the bus matron, who had nearly 20 years of experience, made no effort to communicate with the driver or contact the school.
    — Doug Williams, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of matron
Noun
  • For another fun twist on ice-queen glam, take a cue from Zara Larsson and pile on the shimmery silver-white shadow accented with rhinestones in lieu of snowflakes, or perhaps a fresh platinum blonde hair color à la Serena Williams.
    — Kara Nesvig, Allure, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Every year, Heidi Klum—the undisputed queen of Halloween—keeps spooky season fans guessing as to her next big costume reveal.
    — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of queen
Noun
  • The villa was built in 1854 to be the lakeside estate for a countess and her family, but just 20 years later, was converted into a hotel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of countess

Phrases Containing dame

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Cite this Entry

“Dame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dame. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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