as in middle-class
belonging to the class of people of middle social or economic rank
The neighborhood was occupied primarily by bourgeois families.
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Recent Examples of bourgeois
Unbowed in court The Jewish Anti-Fascist Committee’s leaders were charged with bourgeois nationalism, treason and espionage.
—
Wendy Z. Goldman, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025
Schmid’s wife served Rüeblitorte, a Swiss carrot cake that manages bourgeois indulgence with a vegetable alibi.
—Simon Akam, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
By then, the preeminent fashion genius of the third quarter of the 20th century and the designer so often credited with inventing the modern woman’s wardrobe had handed prêt-à-porter over to his assistants, who clung as if by commandment to the house dogma of bourgeois Parisian elegance.
—Rob Haskell, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
The film’s portrayal of Kafka as a misunderstood genius stymied by bourgeois capitalist priorities is sympathetic but hardly radical, while its engagement with his actual work is limited, give or take some canny quotation in Marek Epstein’s script.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bourgeois
Wendy Z. Goldman, The Conversation, 1 Dec. 2025
Schmid’s wife served Rüeblitorte, a Swiss carrot cake that manages bourgeois indulgence with a vegetable alibi.
—Simon Akam, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
By then, the preeminent fashion genius of the third quarter of the 20th century and the designer so often credited with inventing the modern woman’s wardrobe had handed prêt-à-porter over to his assistants, who clung as if by commandment to the house dogma of bourgeois Parisian elegance.
—Rob Haskell, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
The film’s portrayal of Kafka as a misunderstood genius stymied by bourgeois capitalist priorities is sympathetic but hardly radical, while its engagement with his actual work is limited, give or take some canny quotation in Marek Epstein’s script.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bourgeois
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bourgeois
Adjective
-
The histories of women’s lives tend to not be as robustly recorded; so too, are the lives of working- and even middle-class people.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
13 Jan. 2026
-
With her family business in high demand, Janet’s middle-class childhood provided her with a level of comfort and security never known to her parents or older siblings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Behind the classy presentation is a working-class spirit, one that honors the simplicity of showing up, being yourself and doing your job.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Anything to help him, with his working-class family background, blend in at USC.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Look for urea-free fertilizer that helps the plant absorb nitrogen more efficiently, and make sure to flush out the potting medium with plain water each month to prevent salt buildup that can harm the roots.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The goats prefer their trees plain.—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bourgeois.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bourgeois. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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