damsel

noun

ˈdam-zəl How to pronounce damsel (audio)
Definition of damselnext
as in girl
a young unmarried woman knights are celebrated in fairy tales for rescuing damsels in distress

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 damsel The brave lifeguard risks life and limb to stab and punch the killer fish and rescue the damsel in distress, only to lose her to a man in a spacesuit walking along the sand who removes his helmet as the woman sprints to our space hero. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2026 In the Terminator films, Hamilton played heroine Sarah Connor, a damsel in distress who becomes a hard-ass warrior. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025 Infiniti’s portrayal of Willa has drawn praise for subverting the trope of the damsel in distress, instead becoming her very own heroine in the tale. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025 Dark Towers, crooked wizard towers, towers with damsels in distress. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for damsel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damsel
  1. girl
  2. maiden
  3. maid
Noun
  • Some choose to go beyond the purely traditional in favor of celebrations that feel personal and memorable; like a girls’ night in or a day by the sea.
    — Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 28 July 2026
  • The 21-year-old musician, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, is accused of killing and dismembering the teenage girl to prevent her from disclosing details about their relationship ahead of the release of his album, prosecutors said.
    — Jason Kravarik, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
Definition of girl
Noun
  • At the Lortel, her one-woman show plays out on a candlestick-heavy gothic set by Derek McLane that resembles a Barbie Dreamhouse modded for a Meat Loaf video, and Cohen enters in an haute-Ren-faire pink maiden’s dress by Kelsey Randall.
    — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 28 July 2026
  • Lucknow Super Giants quick Mohsin Khan conceded just two runs in 12 balls against Sooryavanshi, dismissing him twice and even bowling a maiden over.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of maiden
Noun
  • The maid came into the room and brought me upstairs to a massage room.
    — Abby Ellin, Vanity Fair, 27 July 2026
  • When the elevator opened on Sonya’s floor, a uniformed maid stood waiting at the apartment’s front door.
    — Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
Definition of maid

Browse Nearby Words

dams
damsel
damsels
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Cite this Entry

“Damsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damsel. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on damsel

Nglish: Translation of damsel for Spanish Speakers

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