as in girl
a young unmarried woman
knights are celebrated in fairy tales for rescuing damsels in distress
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of damsel
Miley Cyrus, Mayor Pauline Miley’s transition from enfant terrible to one of the industry’s most creative staples suggests a kind of mid-career stability present in damsel in distress turned politician Pauline.
Katy Perry, Daisy
Obviously!!!
—
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 June 2025
A little over a decade ago, actresses in these kind of movies were handcuffed to the role of the damsel in distress.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
Not for one second does Lepard’s script reduce Zephyr to a mere damsel in distress.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 17 May 2025
Sittin there trapped in a tower like the damsel that failed.
—Sidik Fofana, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for damsel
Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 June 2025
A little over a decade ago, actresses in these kind of movies were handcuffed to the role of the damsel in distress.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 5 June 2025
Not for one second does Lepard’s script reduce Zephyr to a mere damsel in distress.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 17 May 2025
Sittin there trapped in a tower like the damsel that failed.
—Sidik Fofana, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for damsel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for damsel
Noun
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The Intruder by Freida McFadden When a hurricane bears down on her remote cabin, Casey discovers a bloodied, knife-wielding girl outside her window and reluctantly lets her in.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Poe transplanted the story to Paris, changed Mary’s name to Marie Rogêt and recast her as a perfume shop worker instead of a cigar girl.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As well, Lainey Wilson makes her maiden headlining appearance at Bridgestone Arena a day later.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Sep. 2025
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For Burna Boy, his maiden top 10 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs comes via his second appearance.—
Trevor Anderson,
Billboard,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Lucia Balordi as Nastasia, Ellen’s ladies’ maid who has become a close friend and confidant.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
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Burnett was content to mine references from her own Depression-era youth; her famous maid character, the Charwoman, who became something of a show mascot, harked back to Chaplin’s Little Tramp, wearing a rumpled outfit and performing silent reveries.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Damsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damsel. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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