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
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
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, 6 June 2026
Tuchel does not want dressing-room cliques and has put a premium on having a unified group pulling in the same direction.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 23 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
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
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, 6 June 2026
Tuchel does not want dressing-room cliques and has put a premium on having a unified group pulling in the same direction.
—Dan Sheldon, New York Times, 23 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliques
Noun
-
Growing counter-drone demand The Australian contract comes as militaries worldwide increase investment in layered counter-UAS networks.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
18 June 2026
-
The company has been pursuing eliminating its entire legacy copper landline system across the state to replace it with advanced fiber optic networks.—
Steve Large,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Pan is banking on the tactic to win the Democrat-leaning 6th Congressional District, which under newly redrawn lines includes West Sacramento, Roseville, Rocklin and communities north and east of Sacramento.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2026
-
Aquarius rules communities, friendships, technology, social structures and the future, while Pluto retrograde turns the energy inward.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
17 June 2026
Noun
-
In Labour circles, there is an old joke poking fun at Burnham’s chameleon-like ability to blend into whichever set of ideas is in vogue on the left at that moment in time.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
Back in February, when the first Tesla Cybercab rolled off the line at Tesla Gigafactory Texas, there was plenty of talk in media circles about what was to come.—
Utkarsh Sood
June 19,
New Atlas,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
The parade and street festival are held every June, drawing crowds of between 20,000 and 30,000 residents and families.—
Ana Maria Soler,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
-
With an early look at Sirfetch’d and Pichu in action, exquisite claymation and cutting-edge special effects brought forth by Aardman for this specific project, the series (coming up next year) delighted Bonlieu’s crowds, eager to know more.—
Kevin Giraud,
Variety,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
Indeed, despite the appearance of calm, gangs were actively battling for territory in parts of the capital during the visit.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
17 June 2026
-
Eaton testified that the men were involved in rival gangs — G-Mobb in south Sacramento, Garden Blocc Crips in North Sacramento and others that have battled over the decades — and crossed paths with deadly consequences at 10th and K streets.—
Darrell Smith,
Sacbee.com,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Nearly 100 battery fire incidents occurred in 2025, mostly involving battery packs and vape devices, according to FAA data.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
-
The stickers come in packs that contain seven to eight stickers with different images to trade and collect.—
Julianna Mejia,
Kansas City Star,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
Warrior Cats is based on Erin Hunter’s feline book series that follows the adventures and drama of multiple clans of feral cats.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
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The event consists of live music, competition events such as highland dancing and sheepdog trials, food vendors and educational classes on what Scottish clans are.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Season 2 sees Louis and Claudia in Europe — just in time for World War II — and both novel and show expand outward to include things like vampire covens and AMC tie-in series to the further reaches of Rice’s lore.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
6 June 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Cliques.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliques. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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