knights are celebrated in fairy tales for rescuing damsels in distress
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Nintendo’s original damsel in distress first appeared in the 1981 game, kidnapped by DK for Mario (then called Jumpman) to rescue.—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 10 July 2025 Miley Cyrus, Mayor Pauline Miley’s transition from enfant terrible to one of the industry’s most creative staples suggests a kind of mid-career stability present in damsel in distress turned politician Pauline.
Katy Perry, Daisy
Obviously!!!—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 6 June 2025 Yes, her character Grace has become the love interest of Tom Cruise’s character Ethan Hunt in these latest Mission: Impossible films, but both actor Hayley Atwell and her on-screen persona are far from being a damsel in distress.—Jeff Conway, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025 Not for one second does Lepard’s script reduce Zephyr to a mere damsel in distress.—Peter Debruge, Variety, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for damsel
Word History
Etymology
Middle English damesel, from Anglo-French dameisele, from Vulgar Latin *domnicella young noblewoman, diminutive of Latin domina lady
Share