as in classes
one of the segments of society into which people are grouped
a member of the upper caste
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of castes
The Ramayana has hundreds of versions — across states, dialects, castes.
—
Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
If found guilty, these men could face harsher punishments under Indian laws designed to protect disadvantaged castes.
—Esha Mitra, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
Civil confrontations invariably cross classes and castes, bringing together people from radically different social cohorts while separating seemingly natural allies.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
They were designed to help the backward castes under the untouchables and so forth, and then expanded to some other groups.
—Ananya Vajpeyi, Foreign Affairs, 27 Jan. 2016
Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
If found guilty, these men could face harsher punishments under Indian laws designed to protect disadvantaged castes.
—Esha Mitra, CNN, 22 Feb. 2025
Civil confrontations invariably cross classes and castes, bringing together people from radically different social cohorts while separating seemingly natural allies.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2024
They were designed to help the backward castes under the untouchables and so forth, and then expanded to some other groups.
—Ananya Vajpeyi, Foreign Affairs, 27 Jan. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for castes
Noun
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This picture is one of a few taken at cotillion, a largely Southern tradition of etiquette classes and formal dance instruction for middle schoolers.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
25 Oct. 2025
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Sheholds court over the cooking classes held in a private room at the Eldridge neighborhood location in West Houston.—
Stacey Zable,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Therefore, the present work supports the belief that rational materials design at both the macro and atomic levels can solve long-standing challenges, according to a press release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
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In its final form, the sky-high pad spanned a whopping 13,300 square feet across two levels, with four bedrooms, seven bathrooms, a gym, a massage room, wine storage, and plenty of sprawling gallery walls to display the performer’s art collection.—
Mekita Rivas,
Architectural Digest,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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His passing, while not expected to immediately alter the balance of power—given his retirement from the Supreme People’s Assembly in 2019—underscores a generational shift in North Korea’s upper echelons.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
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Grey typically isn’t a colour associated with fun, but the background, lettering, stripe down the middle and sleeve design, have defied logic to propel the Raiders into the higher echelons of these rankings.—
Ajay Rose,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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She was assigned to the EVOLVE brand before she was let go in October as part of a revamp of the company's developmental ranks.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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The move also helps Netflix compete with YouTube, which has risen in ranks as the most popular platform for podcasts.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Castes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castes. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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