handmaiden
noun
hand·maid·en
ˈhan(d)-ˌmā-dᵊn 
variants
or less commonly handmaid
1
: a personal maid or female servant
2
: something whose essential function is to serve or assist
criticism is not the enemy of art but rather its handmaiden—
Gary Michael
Gary MichaelSynonyms
Examples of handmaiden in a Sentence
the princess was intensely shy, and allowed only her handmaiden to enter her chambers
Recent Examples on the Web
Already convinced the coaches were nothing but handmaidens to the app, the firm piled on new clients heedlessly.
—Allison Pugh, TIME, 14 Aug. 2024
Some of its most savage jokes lie in the dynamics between master and servant — and none of those are more toxic than the one between Pampinea and her loyal handmaiden Misia (Derry Girls‘ Saoirse-Monica Jackson).
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2024
Just for having been a handmaiden in that extraordinary outcome, hyperglobalization deserves—if not three—at least two cheers.
—Dev Patel, Foreign Affairs, 12 June 2024
In an 8-7 decision, the court rejected their attempt to remake the country’s judiciary into a handmaiden of the government.
—Lloyd Green, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for handmaiden 
Allison Pugh, TIME, 14 Aug. 2024
Some of its most savage jokes lie in the dynamics between master and servant — and none of those are more toxic than the one between Pampinea and her loyal handmaiden Misia (Derry Girls‘ Saoirse-Monica Jackson).
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2024
Just for having been a handmaiden in that extraordinary outcome, hyperglobalization deserves—if not three—at least two cheers.
—Dev Patel, Foreign Affairs, 12 June 2024
In an 8-7 decision, the court rejected their attempt to remake the country’s judiciary into a handmaiden of the government.
—Lloyd Green, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2024
See all Example Sentences for handmaiden
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'handmaiden.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near handmaiden
Cite this Entry
“Handmaiden.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handmaiden. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
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