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
Hamas has sought to exert control over the rest of the enclave, including in violent clashes with rival clans, some of which receive backing from Israel, and at least one public execution.
—
Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
In classical antiquity, the mountainous region was notorious for bandits; in modern times, blood feuds among clans were rife.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University and a former IDF intelligence officer, said Hamas has seized the clans’ weapons and money, much of it originating from Israel, drawing parallels to Hezbollah’s takeover of southern Lebanon in 2000.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
However, Hamas members have also waged deadly shootouts with Palestinian clans, which are essentially armed gangs.
—NPR, 16 Oct. 2025
For more than a year now, Israel has pushed the idea of shoring up the clans and bypassing both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority in the aftermath of the war.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
And our definition of social media was to converse about the over-the-top shenanigans of the fictional Ewing, Channing and Carrington clans at the proverbial office watercooler.
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
In 2020, the California Fish and Game Commission made six lion clans a candidate for protection under the state Endangered Species Act, and are expected to decide whether to permanently list them next year.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Any recognition of Somaliland as an independent state will result in dangerous repercussions, including exacerbating internal divisions between the various clans of Somaliland that support independence and others that seek to remain within the Somali federal state.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Chantal Da Silva, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025
In classical antiquity, the mountainous region was notorious for bandits; in modern times, blood feuds among clans were rife.
—Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025
Michael Milshtein, head of the Palestinian Studies Forum at Tel Aviv University and a former IDF intelligence officer, said Hamas has seized the clans’ weapons and money, much of it originating from Israel, drawing parallels to Hezbollah’s takeover of southern Lebanon in 2000.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2025
However, Hamas members have also waged deadly shootouts with Palestinian clans, which are essentially armed gangs.
—NPR, 16 Oct. 2025
For more than a year now, Israel has pushed the idea of shoring up the clans and bypassing both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority in the aftermath of the war.
—Bobby Ghosh, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
And our definition of social media was to converse about the over-the-top shenanigans of the fictional Ewing, Channing and Carrington clans at the proverbial office watercooler.
—Marc Berman, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
In 2020, the California Fish and Game Commission made six lion clans a candidate for protection under the state Endangered Species Act, and are expected to decide whether to permanently list them next year.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Any recognition of Somaliland as an independent state will result in dangerous repercussions, including exacerbating internal divisions between the various clans of Somaliland that support independence and others that seek to remain within the Somali federal state.
—Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clans
Noun
-
Organizations that adopt this mindset at scale in the coming years will be the true winners—in the marketplace, within their communities, and even on the battlefield.—
Phil Gilbert,
Fortune,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has highlighted Indigenous communities as key players in this year’s COP30 negotiations.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
An effort to legalize online sports betting operated by tribes in Wisconsin is being challenged by the Sports Betting Alliance, which represents national companies such as Draft Kings, FanDuel and Bet 365.—
Frank Vaisvilas,
jsonline.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Data sovereignty, for example — tribes owning and controlling their own AI data and infrastructure — could mitigate many of AI’s risks.—
Matt Alderton,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Beyond tools and workflow organization, FinBursa’s marketplace is designed to enable professionals to expand their networks organically.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Linking quantum computers to create powerful, high-speed quantum networks involves entangling atoms through a fiber cable.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The 15 families who are suing the Christian girls’ summer camp lost daughters who were campers and counselors, including several from the Dallas area.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Some families had to go without benefits for several days this month, Haynes said, and many federal workers in the Sacramento region are going unpaid in a season when the demand for food assistance always soars.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
These internal cliques, or deputy gangs, which have been tied to specific LASD precincts, have names like the Banditos, the Grim Reapers, and the Regulators.—
Jesse Hyde,
Rolling Stone,
21 Oct. 2025
-
At the Dallas Street property, small cliques of armed men, mostly Venezuelans and Mexicans, fought an ongoing turf war.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Namely, going after the drug traffickers themselves by raiding Mexican cartel trap houses and robbing their mules, using equipment borrowed from their parents including night-vision goggles and beanbag shotguns.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Wiener’s bill, SB 607, would require a two-thirds vote in both houses of the Legislature and then voter approval.—
William Melhado,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
As the confrontation escalated, agents deployed a flash-bang device while crowds threw bricks and paint cans from rooftops.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Zion National Park is stunning and peaceful in winter, with fewer crowds and rare access to scenic drives by personal vehicle.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
What's really behind the baby bust The reasons Americans choose not to have children are hotly debated in academic circles, with many attributing America’s baby bust to shifting priorities and societal norms.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Ankle circles Sit or stand and slowly draw large circles with your foot, moving from your ankle joint rather than your toes.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clans. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share