1
as in adults
a person of advanced years
in that Asian society elders are accorded great respect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in superiors
one who is above another in rank, station, or office
as your elder in the company, he is within his rights to tell you what to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ancestors
one who is older than another
it wouldn't hurt to show a little more respect for your elders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deans
the senior member of a group
as the elder of the contingent of living former presidents, he was accorded a place of highest honor at the ceremonies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elders
Supported by volunteers and partners, the garden offers hands-on opportunities that bring together traditional knowledge from community elders and historical records.
—
John Leos, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Deeply troubled by the demographic and social problems plaguing the Nenets people, Nerkagi founded the Land of Hope—a tundra school for children which combines modern and traditional education and provides support to orphans and lonely elders.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
The probe also found that leaders and elders from multiple churches, many of whom were Roy's friends and mentors, had varying degrees of knowledge about his behavior.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 24 Mar. 2026
Callam studied organizational psychology at United States International University, advocates for LGBTQ+ elders and lives in Poway.
—Ted G Callam, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Simpson, Elle, and Smart Young show how leaning on community—friends, family, elders, and trusted confidants—can transform what feels like a heavy, lonely responsibility into an act of care and protection.
—Essence, 22 Mar. 2026
Larry Wilkins, the family mule skinner who runs 7W Youth Riding Club, recalled how elders used to say there were no gay people on the trail ride.
—Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2026
Tribal youths worked with elders to harvest tule — a stalky plant native to California’s wetlands — and use it to build traditional boats.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
In February, lawyers for two elders argued that the defamation case against them must be dismissed.
—Michelle Casady, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
John Leos, AZCentral.com, 29 Mar. 2026
Deeply troubled by the demographic and social problems plaguing the Nenets people, Nerkagi founded the Land of Hope—a tundra school for children which combines modern and traditional education and provides support to orphans and lonely elders.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
The probe also found that leaders and elders from multiple churches, many of whom were Roy's friends and mentors, had varying degrees of knowledge about his behavior.
—Kristine Phillips, IndyStar, 24 Mar. 2026
Callam studied organizational psychology at United States International University, advocates for LGBTQ+ elders and lives in Poway.
—Ted G Callam, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Simpson, Elle, and Smart Young show how leaning on community—friends, family, elders, and trusted confidants—can transform what feels like a heavy, lonely responsibility into an act of care and protection.
—Essence, 22 Mar. 2026
Larry Wilkins, the family mule skinner who runs 7W Youth Riding Club, recalled how elders used to say there were no gay people on the trail ride.
—Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2026
Tribal youths worked with elders to harvest tule — a stalky plant native to California’s wetlands — and use it to build traditional boats.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
In February, lawyers for two elders argued that the defamation case against them must be dismissed.
—Michelle Casady, Dallas Morning News, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elders
Noun
-
For many adults, the beauty book triggered memories of a pre-social-media childhood spent cutting pictures out of magazines and pasting them into notebooks.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Or the move could have been to help the calf stay afloat—unlike adults, young sperm whales tend to sink and need to swim harder to reach the surface to breathe.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The younger Altman was ousted in February 1998 for failing to tell his superiors about the existence of a controversial videotape that showed firefighters drinking beer and using racial slurs at a firehouse retirement party, the Tribune previously reported.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
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All three had been asked by their superiors to replace the plates on their cars but refused, McNicholas said.—
Fedor Zarkhin,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Claire meets Frank’s ancestors.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
-
People whose ancestors ate a lot of endosperm have extra copies of the genes that make starch‑digesting enzymes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Juan Baez, president of the Administrators and Supervisors Council and principal of the Milwaukee School of Languages, said deans and assistant principals are often the first to respond to safety concerns and conflicts.—
Rory Linnane,
jsonline.com,
25 Mar. 2026
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Also, there are academic department consolidations under discussion with deans and faculty, the provost wrote.—
Helen I. Bennett,
Hartford Courant,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Crypto newcomers and veterans have paid to attend workshops centered on investing.—
Bracey Harris,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
-
After years of disappointment in March, coach Tommy Lloyd has gotten Arizona (36-2) back to being a championship contender thanks to a talented freshman class led by Peat to go along with veterans like Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Most oldsters like myself still will probably find revisiting the piece enjoyable.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
But Italian brainrot’s invisible massiveness, totally foreign to oldsters but beloved by children across continents and languages, is a compelling and chilling showcase of our frazzled internet culture landscape.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Yet only 17% of seniors reported graduating with student loan debt.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
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The scholarship program helps graduating high school seniors and college students in the Naperville area.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Specialists in geriatrics know that most falls have multiple causes – and that practical steps like reviewing medications or improving home safety can prevent the next one.—
Jerry Gurwitz,
The Conversation,
27 Feb. 2026
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Single Leg Stand Standing on one leg may sound simple, but the exercise can help build strength and improve balance, according to Robyn Culbertson, PT, DPT, a physical therapist specializing in geriatrics and spokesperson for the American Physical Therapy Association.—
Stephanie Anderson Witmer,
Health,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elders. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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