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
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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
-
The ladies of Gilead were in France, Saturday, for the world premiere of Hulu’s The Testaments.—
Nada Aboul Kheir,
Deadline,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The ladies retire to their respective corners.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As the movie begins, Armando takes shelter in a Recife safehouse, overseen by a cigarette-ripping matron called Dona Sebastiana and populated by refugees navigating their own unspecified troubles.—
Michael Snyder,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
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Only 40 guests were invited to the wedding, including John’s cousin Anthony Radziwill (who served as his best man); John’s sister, Caroline Kennedy (Carolyn’s matron of honour), and her husband, Edwin Schlossberg; and their kids, Jack (the ring bearer), Rose and Tatiana (both flower girls).—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Why these deposits exist might remain unknown; however, the Melsonby deposits showcase power and wealth, according to LBV, which might even be linked to a famous female queen of Rome, Queen Cartimandua, who ruled Brigantes in the 50s and 60s AD.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
23 Mar. 2026
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The wooden board is fabricated from curly maple and the knights, pawns, bishops and queens — all positioned as if a game has begun — are made of ceramics.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
Denver Post,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
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It had supposedly been made in the nineteen-forties, for an Italian countess or an English lady, then scrapped, and afterward either smuggled out of the workroom by a starry-eyed seamstress or, with the atelier head’s approval, given to one of the in-house models.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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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
Cite this Entry
“Dame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dame. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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