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

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

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 Another grand Historic District dame, The Pamlico House is a Colonial Revival home tucked away on a quiet residential street just blocks from the main drag. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 July 2026 She was recognized for her services to the performing arts by Queen Elizabeth, who made Andrews a dame in 2000. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026 In 2014 she was made a dame, the female equivalent of a knight, for services to the arts and to charity. — Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 She was named a dame, the female equivalent of a knighthood, for services to literature, a title that Mirren herself was awarded in 2003. — ABC News, 12 June 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
  • But what truly took the event to new heights was the way the ladies from the other franchises reacted to being on Kyle’s turf.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Just a few days earlier at Palazzo Brancaccio, the ladies of the Roman aristocracy had vied to appear in the ballroom scenes, perhaps hoping to meet Gregory Peck.
    — Daria Egidi, Vanity Fair, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of lady
Noun
  • Cohran was a rarity in 1936 — a female police officer, known then as a police matron.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Since then, Hills has worked in various hospitals and wards, including spending 10 years as a ward sister and a matron, which are both senior roles for nurses.
    — Lexi Lane, PEOPLE, 27 June 2026
Definition of matron
Noun
  • Country queen and national treasure Dolly Parton may have physically left the world on Tuesday, but her indelible mark on the world and the industry will never be forgotten.
    — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The country queen wore the whole story of American music on her shoulders like a coat of many colors.
    — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of queen
Noun
  • Beyond fancy friends and connections to famous people, what the countess has most of all is game.
    — Luisa Opalesky, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • De Lesseps turned a fall from countess to tabloid fixture into a thriving cabaret career.
    — Maer Roshan, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 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 29 Aug. 2026.

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