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
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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
-
Beautiful clean coal has been a reliable energy source supporting American communities and economic growth for generations.—
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Students in Cal State Fullerton’s Master of Social Work program now have access to a new credential pathway that expands career opportunities and prepares graduates to make an impact at schools in their communities.—
Jenelyn Russo,
Oc Register,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
On Saturday, federal agents were rammed and boxed in by 10 cars near Broadview, Illinois, where anti-ICE crowds have been gathering for days and nearly a dozen people have been arrested.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Legendary Whitetails Women’s Pathfinder Performance Pants Shoulder seasons are the perfect time to explore the outdoors—lighter crowds and milder weather are right up my alley.—
Alice Bennett,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Prolonged radiation and geomagnetic activity can interfere with GPS networks, disrupt radio signals and damage spacecraft.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
3 Oct. 2025
-
For 48 hours, the Taliban appeared to turn back the clock in Afghanistan with a directive to cut off the internet and phone networks, disconnecting millions of people from the world outside.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
This restriction hampered the MSS’ ability to reduce gangs’ territorial control as gunmen coordinated and simultaneously launched attacks in different corners of the country.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
-
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said the casualties include protesters and bystanders killed by members of the security forces, but also others killed in subsequent widespread violence and looting by individuals and gangs not associated with the protesters.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Rodger’s upcoming debut novel, which is due to publish in 2027, has been directing chatter in worldwide circles, leading to the auction.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The annual Philly Skillshare Convergence will occur over the coming Friday through Sunday, according to an advertisement circulating in antifa circles.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
On this day, inside the card shop, the disappointing packs didn’t send him home.—
Dan Woike,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Tendys are available in packs of 3 or 4 pieces and both come with two dipping sauces.—
Sabrina Weiss,
PEOPLE,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The clans vote to fight for the Stuart king mostly thanks to Uncle Grant, who in a real surprise, gets very vocal about supporting the cause.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Yet the unit also targets dissenters and those, including various clans, some backed by Israel, that dare to defy Hamas’s rule.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These differentiating numbers are due to how the two organizations track book bans.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
-
The building will offer commercial space for lease at the street level, but currently, no businesses or organizations have claimed the space.—
Everett Eaton,
jsonline.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cliques.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliques. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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