as in dowager
a dignified usually elderly woman of some rank or authority
the city's grandes dames still hold considerable sway in its cultural life
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Recent Examples of grande dame
Where to Stay The Hermitage has been the grande dame of Nashville hotels since 1910 (231 6th Ave. N., nightly rates from $599).
—
Jessica Ritz, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024
French Riviera grande dame Carlton Cannes was transformed into a Regent hotel in 2023 after an extensive renovation, and Regent Bali Canggu will debut in the coming months.
—Jennifer Kester, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
No Napa restaurant list is complete without mentioning the area’s grande dame that put Napa Valley on the epicurean map.
—Katie Sweeney, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Irene Camber, grande dame of women’s fencing, dies at 98
Hostage families begin 4-day march amid tense cease-fire negotiations
South African city copes with climate change by chopping down trees
A loud bang, and then a shout, disrupts Metro transit hearing
What is a leap day?
—Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grande dame 
Jessica Ritz, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024
French Riviera grande dame Carlton Cannes was transformed into a Regent hotel in 2023 after an extensive renovation, and Regent Bali Canggu will debut in the coming months.
—Jennifer Kester, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024
No Napa restaurant list is complete without mentioning the area’s grande dame that put Napa Valley on the epicurean map.
—Katie Sweeney, Forbes, 26 Nov. 2024
Irene Camber, grande dame of women’s fencing, dies at 98
Hostage families begin 4-day march amid tense cease-fire negotiations
South African city copes with climate change by chopping down trees
A loud bang, and then a shout, disrupts Metro transit hearing
What is a leap day?
—Washington Post, 28 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for grande dame
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Cite this Entry
“Grande dame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/grande%20dame. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.
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