as in classes
one of the segments of society into which people are grouped
a member of the upper caste
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Recent Examples of castes
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
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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And while not officially linked to the spa, the morning yoga classes for Retreat guests were the perfect prep for a day of pampering.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
5 Apr. 2026
-
The pair enrolled in online classes at Dakota County Technical College through the state’s Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program, which frees up their schedules during the typical school day.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Some groundwater monitoring wells detected contamination levels higher than at any point since 1991, which the county believes may be due to a new leak.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The animations show levels of sophistication and internet access that indicate ties to government offices, said Mahsa Alimardani, a director of WITNESS, a human-rights group working on AI video evidence.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Khosla himself has endorsed the idea of a national wealth fund, and the symmetry between his individual advocacy and OpenAI’s institutional proposal suggests that a policy framework is crystallizing within the AI industry’s upper echelons.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
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Instead, more households are climbing into the echelons of the upper middle class due to income gains in recent decades, according to research from the nonpartisan American Enterprise Institute.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As with the hiring of Bill Belichick — OK, maybe not the best example — the Tar Heels have turned to the pro ranks to try to fix a program that isn’t getting enough done on the collegiate level.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
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Malone is the second high-profile coach the North Carolina athletic department has hired from the professional ranks despite having had no college head coaching experience.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Castes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/castes. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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