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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of dame
Hanoi’s grand dame has since survived bombing raids during the Vietnam War and hosted a who’s who of playwrights, royalty and world leaders.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
Along with Elba, this year’s Honors include British comedian, writer, and actor Meera Syal and England women’s football coach Sarina Wiegman, who have been made honorary dames, and British writer Roy Clarke, who was also knighted.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2025
Dancing on Ice stars and 1984 Gold medalists Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean were made a dame and knight respectively for their charity work too.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025
McKnight often plays the role of the dame, dressing up in drag.
—Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dame
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
Along with Elba, this year’s Honors include British comedian, writer, and actor Meera Syal and England women’s football coach Sarina Wiegman, who have been made honorary dames, and British writer Roy Clarke, who was also knighted.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2025
Dancing on Ice stars and 1984 Gold medalists Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean were made a dame and knight respectively for their charity work too.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 29 Dec. 2025
McKnight often plays the role of the dame, dressing up in drag.
—Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 27 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dame
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dame
Noun
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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
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The empress dowager’s legacy Empress Dowager Ling was largely unsuccessful in her bid for power.—
Stephanie Balkwill,
The Conversation,
17 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Now, these spikes, where this one lady said 55,000 gallons were being consumed by her property.—
Ted Scouten,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
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The exact quartet of Office ladies also shared a heartwarming picture of their reunion over drinks and dinner in 2024.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Everyone's favorite gossip, Adjoa Andoh will return as Lady Danbury, the town's societal matron and unofficial matchmaker.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
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The style, penned by legendary jewelry designer Jean Schlumberger in the 1960s, has grown from a society matron’s must-have to an intelligent gentleman’s accessory.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The queen—blond, leggy, wearing dark glasses and a red flapper dress—lounges on an armchair while ministers in suits delight their childish king by dancing with him, turning him and his big belly in cartwheels and the like.—
Jennifer Homans,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
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Humiliating him would be like ridiculing the queen to her face.—
Roger Bennett,
Fortune,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lang went on to appear in most of Fuller’s films, including playing a rebellious German countess in his 1980 war epic The Big Red One, and several by their friend Wim Wenders.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
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There were so many senior royals still on the roster (Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor among them), that Prince Edward and Sophie, countess of Wessex (now the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh) were relatively minor public figures and had yet to see their profiles bloom.—
Stephanie Bridger-Linning,
Vanity Fair,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dame. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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