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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Disney wants higher carriage fees to reflect the value of its networks, such as ESPN.—
Liam Reilly,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
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While emphasizing that the president has not made a final decision on launching strikes, the story said officials indicated that any potential air campaign would focus on sites that lie at the intersection of the Nicolás Maduro regime and the country’s drug-trafficking networks.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The surge in demand is already driving up energy prices and fueling political backlash as sprawling data centers turn into election-season flashpoints in the communities where they are being constructed.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
As New Yorkers showed today, Americans – especially young people and communities of color – are demanding leaders with vision who stand with the oppressed, not the powerful; who build peace and prosperity instead of profit from war and division.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
What's really behind the baby bust The reasons Americans choose not to have children are hotly debated in academic circles, with many attributing America’s baby bust to shifting priorities and societal norms.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Ankle circles Sit or stand and slowly draw large circles with your foot, moving from your ankle joint rather than your toes.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Ticket buyers were mostly younger males, with men accounting for 61% of audiences and 24 to 34-year-olds representing 39% of crowds.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
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Shoulder-to-shoulder crowds gathered at the Sikh temple in Sutter County Sunday for an annual celebration that has grown exponentially in its 46 years of existence.—
Annika Merrilees,
Sacbee.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
An IndyStar investigation, which is based on interviews with four dozen people, including current and former inmates, their families and former employees, found Miami Correctional is constantly beset by violence fueled by gangs and drugs.—
Kristine Phillips,
IndyStar,
5 Nov. 2025
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While a decade ago the majority of knife crime perpetrated by young people was related to gangs, this is no longer the case, James Alexander, an associate enterprise fellow in criminology at London Metropolitan University, told CNN.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The CFOs surveyed, however, tend to focus on tactical tasks, such as diligence packs, audit-ready financials.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Automotive battery makers are developing packs capable of over 800 kilometers per charge, with higher power density and reduced weight.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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In classical antiquity, the mountainous region was notorious for bandits; in modern times, blood feuds among clans were rife.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Oct. 2025
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But Gaza is home to numerous clans and militant groups, with score-settling and criminality posing a threat to order in the Palestinian enclave, even after the ceasefire.—
Christian Orozco,
NBC news,
17 Oct. 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 8 Nov. 2025.
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