as in circle
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially
that clique refuses to even talk to outsiders at their lunch table
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 clique
Their parties became notorious even in my own cliques; my parents knew to expect at least a few dozen teenagers crashing their party, sucking down all the noodles, and sneaking beers in the canyon down below.
—
Natasha Pickowicz, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2026
In that worldview, what mattered was the welfare of the governed, not of the governing clique.
—Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
And the Thom Browne clique has become thee group to go to the Met Gala with.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2026
This means that the earlier assumption that there was a large clique must have been false.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clique
Natasha Pickowicz, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2026
In that worldview, what mattered was the welfare of the governed, not of the governing clique.
—Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
And the Thom Browne clique has become thee group to go to the Met Gala with.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2026
This means that the earlier assumption that there was a large clique must have been false.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clique
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clique
Noun
-
The temperamental Moon and passionate Mars are in a spat, but their abrupt energy can have beneficial effects for your wider circle and your more intimate connections.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
-
With drum circles, ransacked guest rooms and theatrical confrontations staged across sandy paths and candlelit dinners, guests become active participants in the drama.—
Melinda Sheckells,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Then a crowd of people fled all at once.—
Ryan Oehrli
March 24,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
-
As spring break travel winds down, airports across the country are still dealing with heavy crowds and long security lines, amid the partial government shutdown.—
Marissa Armas,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Last October, the Treasury Department announced sanctions on Petro, members of his family, including his wife Verónica, and allies like Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, citing alleged links to drug trafficking networks.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Under the modification, the General Dynamics subsidiary will aim to address supplier network bottlenecks that have delayed the delivery of the first submarine in the next-generation 12-vessel fleet of nuclear submarines.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While fans packed free concerts from the Lumineers and Orville Peck, Los Lobos — one of the biggest Chicano bands of the last 50 years — played a free show at the Downright Austin that was smaller than expected, considering the broad interest from Austin's Hispanic community.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Many communities canceled festivities following the crackdown on protesters in January, while others have organized smaller, quieter versions of the usually joyous celebration.—
AMY TAXIN,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The show had no stars, just a bunch of, then, very much unknown actors like Daniel Day-Lewis, Colin Firth, Kenneth Branagh, David Parfitt, and Rupert Everett, but Thompson came up with the idea of presenting them as a new class of thespians, the rest is history.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
-
So there’s one guy who is on the sales side and then a bunch of people on the purchasing end.—
Joel Feder,
The Drive,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Criminal gang violence continues unabated in Ecuador following the recapture in June 2025 of the country's biggest drug lord, Adolfo Macías, who leads the Los Choneros gang, after his escape from a maximum-security prison in 2024.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Just as former gang members serve as effective anti-gang advocates, former extremists work with those who either volunteer to leave or have been court-mandated to go through deradicalization.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Each meal includes a collectible card pack featuring a photocard of art featuring either Huntr/X or the Saja Boys, and a Derpy the Tiger access card with a QR code that unlocks exclusive content via the McDonald's app.—
Mike Snider,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Standa Daley, who had not yet turned two when the family started the PCT, added 25 pounds to his mom’s pack, leaving her husband to shoulder a majority of the family’s supplies in his 60-pound pack.—
David Gleisner,
Outside,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The series followed the Christian fundamentalist clan who used their television platform to preach purity, modesty and religious devotion.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
-
There’s a whole legion of other family members and potential suitors to join the Forsyte clan, too, of course.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clique.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clique. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
