grande dame

noun

ˈgrän-ˈdäm How to pronounce grande dame (audio)
plural grandes dames ˈgrän-ˈdäm(z) How to pronounce grande dame (audio) also grande dames ˈgrän-ˈdäm(z) How to pronounce grande dame (audio)
Synonyms of grande damenext
1
: a usually older woman of great prestige or ability
2
: granddaddy sense 2

Synonyms of grande dame

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Examples of grande dame in a Sentence

the city's grandes dames still hold considerable sway in its cultural life
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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.
At the palatial Grand Hotel Tremezzo, the lake's true grande dame, owner Valentina De Santis ensures her couches, pillows, and more are upholstered by Rubelli. — Ondine Cohane, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Aug. 2026 Hollywood Beach Resort, the century-old grande dame with a storied history, is now a vacant relic that appears to be heading toward a more cosmopolitan fate. — Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026 Whether career girl or sexpot, gender bender or grande dame, Saint Laurent’s women were always new, and for the designer, newness was the most natural and inevitable thing in the world. — Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026 Some are centuries-old grande dames; others are boutique newcomers. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for grande dame

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, great lady

First Known Use

1775, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grande dame was in 1775

Rhymes for grande dame

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Browse Nearby Words

grande champagne
grande dame
grandee
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Cite this Entry

“Grande dame.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grande%20dame. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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