ELDER STATESMAN Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

elder statesman

noun

Definition of elder statesman

as in dean

the senior member of a group the elder statesman of the White House correspondents is finally retiring after nearly a half century of service

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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.

Recent Examples of elder statesman Austria’s other elder statesman will join Alaba as the team’s leader. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 7 June 2026 The Rangers need another strong campaign from the two elder statesmen on the starting staff. — Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 23 Mar. 2026 The franchise’s elder statesmen understand that Jokic is an inextricable aspect of any conversation about Murray’s developing legacy. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2026 Mandelson, a former Cabinet minister, ambassador and elder statesman of the governing Labour Party, has not been arrested or charged. — CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elder statesman

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elder statesman

Noun

Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley Law (ACLU Presidential Prize); and Elizabeth Foster, a South Carolina advocate for the freedom to read (the also-new ACLU Next Generation Leader in Civil Rights and Civil Liberties award).

— Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 25 July 2026
Florida International University’s incoming interim law school dean wasn’t just passed over as a finalist during the university’s national search.

— Austin Horn July 24, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026

Definition of dean

Noun

Its inhabitants remain largely indifferent to the independence movement; village elders reason that freedom will benefit the educated while cultivators will merely exchange one set of masters for another.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
Young orcas then gobbled up fish fragments that drifted through the water as their elders tore into what was left of the sunfish’s corpse.

— Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 July 2026

Definition of elder

Noun

Disability spans every age, race, culture and socioeconomic background, and investment in accessibility and inclusive programming tends to ripple outward, improving experiences for older adults, veterans, families and caregivers along the way.

— Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
The Panthers had already moved to protect themselves on the left side, signing veteran tackle Rasheed Walker in March as a potential replacement for Ekwonu.

— Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of veteran

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elder statesman

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“Elder statesman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elder%20statesman. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of elder statesman

noun

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