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Goneril

American  
[gon-er-il] / ˈgɒn ər ɪl /

noun

  1. (in Shakespeare'sKing Lear ) the elder of Lear's two faithless daughters.


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Nobody cheers for Goneril and Regan as they wreak destruction on their pitiable father.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 2026

Most of those who resurrect her do so to account for the psychology of Goneril, Regan and Cordelia.

From Washington Post • Dec. 5, 2021

But in stressing the legitimate grievances Goneril and Regan have toward their wrathful, capricious father, the production underplays what Cordelia knows about her sisters’ natures long before they reveal the full extent of their depravity.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2019

Goneril is a monster; Gargi is a capitalist.

From New York Times • Sep. 7, 2018

In the fourth scene, the banished Kent, so disguised that Lear does not recognize him, presents himself to Lear, who is already staying with Goneril.

From Tolstoy on Shakespeare A Critical Essay on Shakespeare by Chertkov, V. G. (Vladimir Grigorevich)