duenna

noun

Definition of duennanext
as in governess

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for duenna
  1. governess
  2. mademoiselle
  3. mammy
Noun
  • Lowen is a literary equivalent of a governess, hired to take charge of a body of writing rather than the Crawfords’ only remaining child, Crew (Brady Wagner), whose twin sister drowned in an accident that kicked off the family’s tragedies.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Zachary Wigon directs, and Maika Monroe stars as Winifred Notty, a governess who tries and fails not to be a complete, well, psycho in this irreverent, gory horror.
    — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of governess
Noun
  • Doja also matches the vibe of a mademoiselle while putting her French to the test and posing for photos in front of the Eiffel Tower.
    — Michael Saponara, Billboard, 20 Aug. 2025
Definition of mademoiselle
Noun
  • The board also bears an imprint featuring the British slave ship Brookes with a Black mammy superimposed over it.
    — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 2026
  • These include typecasting Black women as jezebels, sapphires and mammies; these depictions, combined with the law enforcement they may be exposed to, increase their vulnerability under the law.
    — Kerry Lester Kasper, Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025
Definition of mammy
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.

Browse Nearby Words

duende
duenna
duennas
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Cite this Entry

“Duenna.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/duenna. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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