as in classes
one of the segments of society into which people are grouped
a member of the upper caste
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of castes
Today, many non-Hindus in India, including Muslims, Christians, Jains and Buddhists, also identify with certain castes.
—
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
The term was then extended to include multiple groups outside the upper castes.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
So, there’s no political parties, there’s no races, and there’s no religions, but there are these two groups that are almost like castes.
—Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025
The Ramayana has hundreds of versions — across states, dialects, castes.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
India’s privileged castes hold a disproportionate share of its wealth.
—The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 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
Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 7 Apr. 2026
The term was then extended to include multiple groups outside the upper castes.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Mar. 2026
So, there’s no political parties, there’s no races, and there’s no religions, but there are these two groups that are almost like castes.
—Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025
The Ramayana has hundreds of versions — across states, dialects, castes.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
India’s privileged castes hold a disproportionate share of its wealth.
—The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 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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He stayed enrolled at his high school in Texas, attending remotely—several years before that became the pandemic norm—and flying back down to the Lone Star State for a couple months after the hockey season ended to finish his classes in person.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
19 Apr. 2026
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There's no spa or gym, but guests use a nearby gym for free, and take classes at a neighborhood spin studio.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Water is receding, but Narsesian said levels are still high and the ice still is out there.—
Sarah Brumfield,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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The 2026 allergy season is objectively worse than last year’s, driven by warmer temperatures and rising CO2 levels pushing plants to produce more pollen than ever before.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
From the upper echelons of global logistics to the cutting edge of industrial energy, this week’s business landscape is defined by transition and rapid scaling.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
That consciousness even reached the upper echelons of medicine.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Rival streaming services are also beefing up the ranks of their podcasts.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
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The news comes amid a string of changes to Apple’s executive ranks in late 2025, including the departures of its AI chief, policy head and one of its top design leaders.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Castes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castes. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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