knights are celebrated in fairy tales for rescuing damsels in distress
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But the damsel isn’t in distress, the monster isn’t so bad, and some raunchy jokes may go over kids’ heads (but will likely delight parents).—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025 In the Terminator films, Hamilton played heroine Sarah Connor, a damsel in distress who becomes a hard-ass warrior.—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025 Infiniti’s portrayal of Willa has drawn praise for subverting the trope of the damsel in distress, instead becoming her very own heroine in the tale.—Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025 That includes the requisite talking animal sidekick, Donkey (Eddie Murphy), and the damsel in distress, Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz).—Skyler Trepel September 1, EW.com, 1 Sep. 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
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