Cinderella

noun

Cin·​der·​el·​la ˌsin-də-ˈre-lə How to pronounce Cinderella (audio)
: one resembling the fairy-tale Cinderella: such as
a
: one suffering undeserved neglect
b
: one suddenly lifted from obscurity to honor or significance
Cinderella adjective

Examples of Cinderella in a Sentence

a company that is the Cinderella of the computer industry The team is the Cinderella of the tournament.
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.
But after Christmas, when the calendar turns, the big boys in the NFL swap the Cinderella slippers for MMA gloves. Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 18 Dec. 2024 During the event, the actress was also joined by The Golden Bachelorette star Mark Anderson after the two sparked dating rumors with their matching Cinderella and Prince Charming Halloween costumes in October. Kelsie Gibson, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024 In a conversation with Interview published Wednesday, the Merry Gentlemen star reflected on being at the center of mega fandom after starring on One Tree Hill for seven seasons, as well as films such as A Cinderella Story and Freaky Friday. Lexy Perez, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Dec. 2024 And so ends the free agency saga of one of the best players in the sport, as Soto brings his lethal hitting skills crosstown to a team that reached the NLCS in Cinderella story fashion after finishing red-hot. Scott Thompson, Fox News, 9 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Cinderella 

Word History

Etymology

after Cinderella, fairy-tale heroine who is used as a drudge by her stepmother but ends up married to a prince

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Cinderella was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near Cinderella

Cite this Entry

“Cinderella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cinderella. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on Cinderella

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