as in lady
a woman of high birth or social position
in the 19th century a number of American gentlewomen used their wealth and influence to further abolitionism, women's rights, and other worthy causes
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 gentlewoman
Social status and fashion conspired to make gentlewomen’s footwear of every sort flimsy.
—
Literary Hub, 4 Aug. 2025
The novelists’ parents were Patrick and Maria Brontë, an Irish clergyman and a Cornish gentlewoman who married in 1812.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
Rep Miller recognized Rep McBride as 'gentleman' and 'Mr.' NOT as 'gentlewoman' and 'Ms.' McBride is a MAN!!!
—Martha McHardy, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Maybe Kate can get Parton to hop back across the pond to play a few songs and, as a real Southern gentlewoman, teach those rather provincial Brits how to properly serve tea.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2023
One of his stories is about a Southern gentlewoman who keeps her dead fiance’s corpse in her bed.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023
In the north, Solomon knew, young oblates, the cherished daughters of gentlewomen, were given to the Lord out of the ranks of the nobility.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
Literary Hub, 4 Aug. 2025
The novelists’ parents were Patrick and Maria Brontë, an Irish clergyman and a Cornish gentlewoman who married in 1812.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025
Rep Miller recognized Rep McBride as 'gentleman' and 'Mr.' NOT as 'gentlewoman' and 'Ms.' McBride is a MAN!!!
—Martha McHardy, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025
Maybe Kate can get Parton to hop back across the pond to play a few songs and, as a real Southern gentlewoman, teach those rather provincial Brits how to properly serve tea.
—Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 28 Aug. 2023
One of his stories is about a Southern gentlewoman who keeps her dead fiance’s corpse in her bed.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023
In the north, Solomon knew, young oblates, the cherished daughters of gentlewomen, were given to the Lord out of the ranks of the nobility.
—Cynthia Ozick, Harper’s Magazine , 10 Apr. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gentlewoman
Noun
-
Wicks’ modest-but-devoted flock includes devout church lady Martha Delacroix (Close), circumspect groundskeeper Samson Holt (Church), tightly-wound lawyer Vera Draven, Esq.—
Ryan Gajewski,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Someone else Johansson would love to see on SNL this season is her Eleanor the Great leading lady.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Neither Oh’s dizzy countess nor Nyong’o’s charming, feckless Viola ever takes the reins of this production, but that would be hard to do.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
-
In a similar vein (pun intended), the 16th-century Hungarian countess Elizabeth Báthory was rumored to have bathed in the blood of young girls to preserve her youth.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Trending Video For consistency, all of the prices reflect queen sizes.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The show created by and starring Florence Longpré, a queen of Canadian dramedy, is playing on Bell’s streamer Crave in Canada, and Canal+ in France.—
Annika Pham,
Variety,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Gentlewoman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentlewoman. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share