1
as in communities
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially
that clan of football fans has parties every weekend on which the New England Patriots play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tribes
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor
the whole clan gets together only for holidays
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clans
However, the ruthless King Saran (Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor) has suppressed magic users and enacts a rule of terror, which Zelie hopes to end in order to reunite Orisha’s clans.
—
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
After fighting to find their way back to one another, Henry and Julia were at the standing stones of Craig Na Dun, hoping to return to their own time, and Brian and Ellen’s romantic escape was interrupted as the 1715 Jacobite Rising began, thrusting the clans into war.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
In mid-July, armed groups affiliated with Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri clashed with local Bedouin clans, spurring intervention by government forces who effectively sided with the Bedouins.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
For almost as long, these two clans have also been intimate friends (and relations) of the Pelosi family.
—James Reginato, Vanity Fair, 5 Mar. 2026
Salvation takes place in a mountainous region of Turkey where two Kurdish clans have grown up in constant distrust of each other.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Within Donnelly Park, visitors can learn about different clans, find re-enactors, shop from vendors with handmade Celtic goods and indulge in Scottish foods and beverages.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026
But, as is often the case with the Fraser and MacKenzie clans, drama was never far behind.
—Amy Wilkinson, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Ten clans or more gather at the end of the movie.
—Ingrid Schmidt, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Jordan Moreau, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
After fighting to find their way back to one another, Henry and Julia were at the standing stones of Craig Na Dun, hoping to return to their own time, and Brian and Ellen’s romantic escape was interrupted as the 1715 Jacobite Rising began, thrusting the clans into war.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
In mid-July, armed groups affiliated with Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Hikmat al-Hijri clashed with local Bedouin clans, spurring intervention by government forces who effectively sided with the Bedouins.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
For almost as long, these two clans have also been intimate friends (and relations) of the Pelosi family.
—James Reginato, Vanity Fair, 5 Mar. 2026
Salvation takes place in a mountainous region of Turkey where two Kurdish clans have grown up in constant distrust of each other.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Within Donnelly Park, visitors can learn about different clans, find re-enactors, shop from vendors with handmade Celtic goods and indulge in Scottish foods and beverages.
—Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Feb. 2026
But, as is often the case with the Fraser and MacKenzie clans, drama was never far behind.
—Amy Wilkinson, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
Ten clans or more gather at the end of the movie.
—Ingrid Schmidt, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clans
Noun
-
Private equity companies would be banned from investing in youth sports teams, leagues, facilities and events under a new federal bill, a move lawmakers say would lower participation costs for families and restore control of a public good to local communities.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
-
By then, Sudan had plunged into a civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, which have both been accused of war crimes against non-Arab communities.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
While state or local governments can often issue tax-exempt bonds to finance large, job-creating projects, such as infrastructure construction, schooling, or healthcare, tribes cannot easily do the same.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
-
Today it’s fragmented across platforms, tribes, influencers, bots, niche communities and algorithmic feeds.—
Sarah DaVanzo,
Rolling Stone,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Gutfeld, however, has the major advantage of airing in the earlier primetime window, where more viewers are simply awake and tuning in across all networks.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
Built from complex networks of sometimes more than 100 different types of neurons, retinal tissue consumes two to three times more energy than the same mass of typical brain tissue.—
Yasemin Saplakoglu,
Quanta Magazine,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The families least likely to be able to navigate a DCF appeal are the same families most likely to be caught in this bill’s net.—
James R Mason,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
-
From there, the couples and their families move in together, navigating real-life compatibility, big personalities and even bigger expectations.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The vast majority of deputies take pride in serving with honor and professionalism, but when individuals engage in misconduct or participate in deputy gangs or cliques that damage the reputation of the department, those actions cannot be tolerated.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
-
In this milieu, Hollywood A-listers like Will Ferrell and Sharon Stone, who occupy separate cliques nearby, pale in comparison to the mingling artistic luminaries.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The rooms Designed like authentic Goan houses, each with its own distinct colors and landscaping, the resort seems quiet even when full (conference groups love this place).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
-
The change in beds, food, schedules and houses put a toll on our physical body that takes days to recover.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Locations like Tarifa, Cádiz and inland hill towns offer expansive views and long totality, though with the likelihood of heavy crowds.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 May 2026
-
Marketers will rush to put down dollars on programs that can still draw large crowds all tuning in at once, says one media buying executive.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
On the other hand, those who carry heterosis face discrimination from within their own circles — Jim is cast out from by the gym queen crowd when his positive test for the virus is exposed — in a clear parallel for how HIV+ people are often treated in gay circles.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
15 May 2026
-
As someone who started wearing makeup in high school to hide my dark under-eye circles and unyielding teenage acne, color correctors and concealers have long been mainstays in my makeup bag.—
Sian Babish,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clans. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
