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

Relevance

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
  • As a result, for every 100 boys who can read and write, just 84 girls can.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Nor could anyone recall a rich romantic life, aside from a girl Franco remembered Becerra dating toward the end of senior year.
    — Ben Paviour August 17, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of girl
Noun
  • Ritual gifts include incense, flowers, perfume, cosmetics and soap, which Hor said are believed to bring beauty and charm after being blessed by the cowherd and seven maidens.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Lastly, Sovereignty broke his maiden in his third start as a two-year-old and won the Kentucky Derby in his third start last year, followed by his three wins at Saratoga last summer.
    — Geoff Clark, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of maiden
Noun
  • Sullivan was an Irish immigrant who had been working as a maid for the Bordens for more than two years.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Tennessee Department of Correction (TDOC) Communications via AP Hines stabbed Jenkins to death while the 54-year-old was working as a motel maid in Kingston Springs.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of maid

Browse Nearby Words

dams
damsel
damsels
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Damsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/damsel. Accessed 23 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on damsel

Nglish: Translation of damsel for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of prowess

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All