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.
Song isn’t alone in her desire to educate a would-be Cinderella out of her bourgeois striving. Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 21 June 2025 Perhaps because the Pacers don’t want to be Cinderella, the Disney princess who needed magic to flip her fortunes. James Boyd, New York Times, 21 June 2025 The children of villains interact with the children of romantic heroes (including the daughters of Cinderella and Aurora, and the son of Prince Charming). Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 19 June 2025 The New York Mets have emerged as one of the best teams in baseball this season after investing heavily in the roster following a Cinderella run to the National League Championship Series. Peter Chawaga, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cinderella.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cinderella. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on Cinderella

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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