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
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Recent Examples of gentlewoman
Those laughs are balanced with real world issues, and a longing for these gentlewomen locked into the suffocating zeitgeist of early 1800s British Regency.
—
David John Chávez, Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2025
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
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
David John Chávez, Mercury News, 12 Dec. 2025
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
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
-
Some of the ladies tried to make amends.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
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Vintage ladies’ watches seem to be an untapped market with extremely decorative and intricate designs from the ’70s and ’80s remaining very accessible.—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Jeanne-Claude’s parents, a French general and countess, arrived in Petaluma the day before the scheduled completion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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De Saint Sernin’s spring show was inspired by his French nobility roots, specifically his grandmother, who was a countess.—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Cate Blanchett is the queen of a relaxed, textured bob.—
Catharine Malzahn,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
-
In some species, ants restructure their nests to slow the transmission of a lethal fungus and in others, ant queens eat infected brood to prevent the spread of disease and recover nutrients.—
Arundathi Nair,
NPR,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gentlewoman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gentlewoman. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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