as in communities
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 cliques
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
And there's hierarchy and cliques and clubs and all these different things.
—H. Alan Scott
jennifer Cunningham, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Even today, Heathers' spin on cliques, teen suicide, and homosexuality still has bite.
—Michelle Kung, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025
The film, set at a suburban Chicago high school, stars Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Anthony Michael Hall as five teenagers from vastly different cliques who spend a life-altering Saturday in detention.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2025
Enid introduced Wednesday to the social scene at Nevermore — the four main cliques being Furs, Fangs, Stoners and Scales.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2025
And that's where little cliques were formed.
—Kate Hogan, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Today, though, even the most exclusive of these maritime cliques embrace their surrounding communities, whether through wildly popular race weeks, youth sailing programs, or taking the helm on sustainability issues.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2024
When and why do girls start forming cliques?
—Hannah L. Schacter, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2024
Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
And there's hierarchy and cliques and clubs and all these different things.
—H. Alan Scott
jennifer Cunningham, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
Even today, Heathers' spin on cliques, teen suicide, and homosexuality still has bite.
—Michelle Kung, EW.com, 18 Aug. 2025
The film, set at a suburban Chicago high school, stars Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Anthony Michael Hall as five teenagers from vastly different cliques who spend a life-altering Saturday in detention.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 16 Aug. 2025
Enid introduced Wednesday to the social scene at Nevermore — the four main cliques being Furs, Fangs, Stoners and Scales.
—Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 4 Aug. 2025
And that's where little cliques were formed.
—Kate Hogan, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024
Today, though, even the most exclusive of these maritime cliques embrace their surrounding communities, whether through wildly popular race weeks, youth sailing programs, or taking the helm on sustainability issues.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 19 Oct. 2024
When and why do girls start forming cliques?
—Hannah L. Schacter, The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliques
Noun
-
The ocean regulates our climate, supports global trade, and feeds communities.—
Olivier Wenden,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Scientific American spoke with Gill about how her work with Guerreros Azules is closing care gaps in Venezuela and how the organization’s approach could help other communities in need.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Bradenton, Florida Dotted with pristine sugar-white beaches, turquoise waters, no high rises and smaller crowds, Bradenton flies below the usual radar in comparison to nearby Tampa or Sarasota.—
Noreen Kompanik,
Boston Herald,
19 Oct. 2025
-
From either direction, the canyon unfolds mile by mile, an unexpected desert Eden where fall lingers long after it’s faded elsewhere and silence fills the space crowds never reach.—
Taryn Shorr-Mckee,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Hackers are now turning Microsoft Teams security threats into real-world dangers that go far beyond corporate networks.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The cuts are expected to be felt across all of the company, from CBS News and the film studio to streaming and TV networks.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
During this time, neo-Nazi gangs grew visible at concerts, football matches and in public squares.—
Steve Salter,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The announcement came after the Washington Examiner first reported the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) uncovered gangs in Chicago were offered up to $50,000 to assassinate high-ranking ICE officials.—
Sophia Compton , Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The release sparked widespread conversation about the cultural state of the bush, but no reaction was swifter than that of the sapphic internet, where posters were quick to point out that the bush has long been the fashion in lesbian circles.—
Quispe López,
Them.,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The citizen science team also spotted two additional odd radio circles in two different galaxies, including one located at the end of a powerful jet that has a sharp curve, resulting in a radio ring about 100,000 light-years wide.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
His last meal consisted of three packs of oatmeal, peanut butter, water and two sports drinks.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
-
In a car on the way to the premiere of It Was Just an Accident, Panahi stops at a convenience store, where a publicist hops out to buy him cigarettes for the next few days (six packs).—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
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,
NPR,
16 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Outside of the band, Thayer is involved in multiple charitable organizations, including serving on the board of directors of the Arnold Palmer Education Fund and the Thayer Family Foundation.—
Jacqueline Weiss,
PEOPLE,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Like all Fasano properties in Brazil, the Rio de Janeiro location works with the Brazilian startup Comida Invisível, which helps connect businesses with food rescue organizations in their area.—
Hannah Walhout,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cliques.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliques. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share