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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Recent Examples of cliques
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliques
Noun
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Large healthcare networks rely on complex systems and third-party vendors, which can slow forensic analysis in the early stages.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The bill would require large financial institutions to allow at least two credit card payment processing networks to be used on their card cards—and one of them cannot be Visa or Mastercard.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Indeed, this tragedy reflects the deep strain being felt in countless communities across our nation.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Upper Lake & Covelo Ranger DistrictsNorthshore Reforestation and Bartlett Springs pile burning located northeast of North Shore communities Nice, Lucerne and Clearlake Oaks in Lake County.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In civil-rights circles, that work falls under the broad definition of legal observing.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Layla has long been one of the most familiar faces in SEC circles, known for her presence on the sidelines and devotion to her family.—
Jane LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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
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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
-
By 2001 coyotes were so much in the news in the Windy City that in that year Chicago homeowners listed them—not street gangs, not burglars, but coyotes—as the single greatest threat to their safety.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Jan. 2026
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Cedre said Porter’s father was heavily involved with Compton gangs, but his mother worked tirelessly to help her son avoid that lifestyle — only for his life to end in gunfire anyway.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The service projects will include packing winter hygiene kits for neighbors struggling, snack packs and cancer care kits.—
Cathy Kozlowicz,
jsonline.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Some modeling clay will come in blocks of different weights and sizes, while variety packs will usually include smaller blocks of varying tones and colors.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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For example, Crow people have held onto their nation's language; neighbors are often family, or considered such; and many tribal members rely on their clans to mentor children, who eventually become mentors themselves for the next generation.—
Katheryn Houghton,
NPR,
8 Jan. 2026
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But when Klaus’ toys begin to cheer up the children of Smeerensburg — a town whose inhabitants are perpetually engaged in a feud between two familial clans — Jesper and Klaus must step out of their comfort zones to help save the town from itself.—
Andrew Walsh,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The Last Witch Hunter, about the one man who stands between humanity and the most horrible witch covens imaginable, grossed $130 million at the worldwide box office at the time of its initial theatrical release in 2015.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
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By then the witchy girl was everywhere, forming outcast covens in The Craft, fighting supernatural baddies in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed, all grown up and empowered to destroy abusive boyfriends in Practical Magic.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
10 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Cliques.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliques. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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