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
The vast majority of deputies take pride in serving with honor and professionalism, but when individuals engage in misconduct or participate in deputy gangs or cliques that damage the reputation of the department, those actions cannot be tolerated.
—
Sierra Van Der Brug, Daily News, 4 May 2026
In this milieu, Hollywood A-listers like Will Ferrell and Sharon Stone, who occupy separate cliques nearby, pale in comparison to the mingling artistic luminaries.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Neither wants to navigate the cliques and social politics of this messy consolidated school.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Instead, the researchers think the violence stemmed from a breakdown of friendships and escalations between cliques and rivals.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
The dark comedy about teen suicide and social cliques was adapted into a musical by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy and had an off-Broadway run in 2014.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
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
This graph had no cliques — clusters of nodes that are all connected to one another.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 28 Jan. 2026
What began as a search for community and understanding turned into an experience that felt akin to the cliques and social hierarchies of high school.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 25 Jan. 2026
Sierra Van Der Brug, Daily News, 4 May 2026
In this milieu, Hollywood A-listers like Will Ferrell and Sharon Stone, who occupy separate cliques nearby, pale in comparison to the mingling artistic luminaries.
—Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Neither wants to navigate the cliques and social politics of this messy consolidated school.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Instead, the researchers think the violence stemmed from a breakdown of friendships and escalations between cliques and rivals.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
The dark comedy about teen suicide and social cliques was adapted into a musical by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy and had an off-Broadway run in 2014.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
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
This graph had no cliques — clusters of nodes that are all connected to one another.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 28 Jan. 2026
What began as a search for community and understanding turned into an experience that felt akin to the cliques and social hierarchies of high school.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliques
Noun
-
Turner saw a huge opening in the television marketplace, a chance to supersede the ABC, NBC and CBS broadcast networks that only allotted half an hour for news at night.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
-
Trucks operating in the middle mile of logistics networks move orders between centralized distribution facilities and last-mile delivery points.—
Eric Rosenbaum,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
These are trade-offs that can be negotiated, at both the local and national levels, to benefit our communities.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
This honor celebrates Domingo’s career as an actor and filmmaker, along with his work to champion underrepresented communities.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Then move through the concentric circles one stage at a time.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
-
Menzin, then 34, was viewed in some circles as a rising star after ascending from intern to the front office.—
Brittany Ghiroli,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Locations like Tarifa, Cádiz and inland hill towns offer expansive views and long totality, though with the likelihood of heavy crowds.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
10 May 2026
-
Marketers will rush to put down dollars on programs that can still draw large crowds all tuning in at once, says one media buying executive.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
All five are barred from contact with motorcycle gangs and from attending future motorcycle events, including Ocean City BikeFest.—
Josh Davis,
Baltimore Sun,
11 May 2026
-
According to court documents, a cellphone video showed members of two gangs in the Buffalo Wild Wings parking lot.—
Shannon Tyler,
Idaho Statesman,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
In mass, shampoo and conditioner combo packs performed well as consumers searched for value.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
11 May 2026
-
Villagers had allegedly complained that packs of stray dogs were often roaming the area before the incident occurred, per the outlet.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
However, the ruthless King Saran (Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor) has suppressed magic users and enacts a rule of terror, which Zelie hopes to end in order to reunite Orisha’s clans.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
-
After fighting to find their way back to one another, Henry and Julia were at the standing stones of Craig Na Dun, hoping to return to their own time, and Brian and Ellen’s romantic escape was interrupted as the 1715 Jacobite Rising began, thrusting the clans into war.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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 14 May. 2026.
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