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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliques
Noun
-
Large defense installations, energy grids, transportation networks, and industrial complexes often span vast geographic areas, making constant surveillance difficult.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The awards, founded in 1985 by Central City Productions CEO Don Jackson, celebrate excellence in gospel music and air nationwide on television networks including BET, Bounce TV and the Stellar Network.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce released a comprehensive binational report Wednesday outlining a five-pillar strategy to address the Tijuana River contamination crisis, a problem that has plagued South San Diego County communities for decades.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The fund — which seeks to foster economic development in traditionally underserved communities — approves grants on a competitive basis and are all but assured to be backed by the State Bond Commission, whose approval also is required.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But now comes a small, influential group of hard-line right-wingers who believe that, in the words of one popular meme in such circles, McCarthy was right.—
Ali Breland,
The Atlantic,
6 Mar. 2026
-
On top lies the picotage technique as well as a pattern of overlapping black circles, that is both enclosing and creating space while also keeping out.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee
March 6,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Marsh is also concerned with how crowds, loud noises and bright lights could impact animals nearby.—
Maya Wilkins,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
While the celebration always draws massive crowds, attendees were especially excited for Gu, who drew loud cheers.—
Jane Tyska,
Mercury News,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Conspirators also spent months obtaining weapons and body armor and attempting to build relationships with Haitian gangs, officials said.—
David Fischer,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
-
At age 14, Arias was caught in the crossfire of a shootout between rival gangs, paralyzing him from the waist down.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Burton notes that the foundation also distributes snack packs and other practical resources that address everyday needs students may encounter during the school day.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
9 Mar. 2026
-
These Kleenex tissue packs can be used for runny noses, watery eyes, and to wipe your mouth.—
Katie Jackson,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
For almost as long, these two clans have also been intimate friends (and relations) of the Pelosi family.—
James Reginato,
Vanity Fair,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Salvation takes place in a mountainous region of Turkey where two Kurdish clans have grown up in constant distrust of each other.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
26 Feb. 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 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
