CLIQUES Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

cliques

noun

plural of clique

as in networks

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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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 So the players will get a day off to cool down but have to spend the night at the pub quiz in teams of Ted’s choosing, never mind the cliques. — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026 Amid the crushes, cliques, and teenage angst, two sisters set out to define themselves on their own terms. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026 In a number of sensitive sectors, such as telecommunications, EVs, and drones, such cliques have already formed, setting bans and restrictions on the use of equipment from Chinese telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE. — Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026 That era involved small cliques of devs talking a big game about decentralization (which often provided a pretext for no accountability) while shilling tokens at all turns. — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 20 July 2026 Since its inception, social media has been a proving ground for tween fashion and identity, offering under-16s a digital canvas to experiment with their style and form online cliques around niche interests. — Sophie Lou Wilson, Vogue, 2 July 2026 Ramsey numbers for same-size red and blue cliques are called diagonal Ramsey numbers. — Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 26 June 2026 Under Meza, player cliques developed, stars were pampered, discipline waned. — Scott M. Reid, Oc Register, 10 June 2026 Prosecutors said the killings were tied to Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, a transnational gang that maintains a presence in Los Angeles through smaller groups, or cliques, including in the San Fernando Valley and around MacArthur Park. — Sydney Barragan, Daily News, 6 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliques

Noun

The Sun enters your 11th House, beginning a month focused on friends, communities, collaborations, networks, and your longer-term hopes.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
An analysis published by NYU’s Journal of Intellectual Property & Entertainment Law examines how younger consumers embrace dupe culture and share affordable alternatives openly with their networks.

— Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of networks

Noun

The Sun enters your 11th House, beginning a month focused on friends, communities, collaborations, networks, and your longer-term hopes.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
Seventy-one percent also doubt that his village cooperatives policy—which plans to establish hubs in roughly 80,000 communities to handle basic-goods distribution, savings, and other rural services—would succeed.

— Jay Ganglani, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of communities

Noun

Alon, Oren’s twin, was an executive at their family’s security firm and frequented the same social circles with his brothers.

— Kara Scannell, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2026
The film slowly relates that the aspiring rapper and superfan ingratiated himself into the band’s circles, flying to New York multiple times as a teenager for the purpose.

— Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of circles

Noun

In his view, the peaceful crowds that greeted Machado on Sunday undermined arguments that her return would necessarily provoke unrest.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
Following Jonas’s post, crowds at Whiskey Myers concerts have skewed younger.

— Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of crowds

Noun

Three planeloads of soldiers from El Salvador landed in Haiti on Friday, days after the Central American nation’s president angrily threatened Haitian gangs that ambushed a group of Salvadoran soldiers over the past weekend who remain missing.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Sentenced to life in prison, Buchanan maintained a grip over gangs in the South Bay area of San Diego, according to an FBI report of an informant’s interview.

— Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of gangs

Noun

Allison found that a PopSocket made the Duo way easier to hold, while Nilay had a less-good time trying to use his existing MagSafe battery packs on the phone.

— Nilay Patel, The Verge, 21 Oct. 2026
Taller SUVs require bigger heavy battery packs to drive through the air but a low-slung wagon glides with less resistance.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of packs

Noun

Ali Mahmoud Ali, the group's Sudan analyst, said that the latest clashes risk bringing in more Nuba clans into the fight and could increase divisions across South Kordofan, where communities are facing an already dire humanitarian situation.

— ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
All Palestinian clans and families in Gaza would also be a target for disarmament, which would have an impact on the future of Hamas and Palestinian armed struggle.

— Mkhaimar Abusada, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of clans

Noun

Many Orlando-area homes feature skeletons that tower over the neighborhood, witchy covens, horror movie icons, clowns, pirate ships, pumpkins, zombies and vampires.

— Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
As in the original, hatchets must be buried and covens assembled to answer these questions.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of covens

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“Cliques.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliques. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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