dames

noun

plural of dame
1
as in dowagers
a dignified usually elderly woman of some rank or authority as the grand dames of local society, they determined which charities received support

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in ladies
a woman of high birth or social position the lords and dames of the shire eagerly awaited the royal visit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 dames Perhaps unknowingly, the star was partaking in a fashion tradition set by the dames of Cortina long ago. — ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026 The ultra-wealthy city-state of Monaco on the French Riviera is no stranger to luxury hotels—fellow grand dames Hôtel de Paris and Hermitage sit at the heart of the action around Casino Square—each vying to outdo the other with fancy arrivals and impeccably discreet service. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 May 2026 Along with Elba, this year’s Honors include British comedian, writer, and actor Meera Syal and England women’s football coach Sarina Wiegman, who have been made honorary dames, and British writer Roy Clarke, who was also knighted. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dames
  1. matrons
  2. ladies
  3. queens
Noun
  • There was also a shift toward elaborate descriptions of what society matrons wore to events, and again, women were believed to be more able to provide these verbal illustrations.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 6 Mar. 2026
Definition of matrons
Noun
  • In Flossie’s new deal with Raq, her ladies now also deliver narcotics to buyers.
    — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 3 July 2026
  • Brown had been expecting soup and sandwiches, but the ladies had made a fuss.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 3 July 2026
Definition of ladies
Noun
  • The bell’s pyramidal face is decorated with depictions of deceased kings and queens, and its toll was believed to invoke ancestral spirits.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
  • Little is yet known about the jewelry and its significance, but Gordon believes that the jewelry was once worn by the kings and queens of an ancient Khmer Empire that spanned Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand, and existed for hundreds of years.
    — Will Croxton, CBS News, 28 June 2026
Definition of queens

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Cite this Entry

“Dames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dames. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on dames

Nglish: Translation of dames for Spanish Speakers

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