as in circle
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
as in cliquish
bound together by feelings of very close association
found the people at the brokerage house to be just as cliquey as a gaggle of high school cheerleaders
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 clique
Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
In the post-colonial era, Arab dictators established secular laws, but these legal systems favored the ruling clique.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clique
Noun
Among the latter’s clique is secretly nerdy blonde Lizzie (Lulu Wilson), who used to hang out with Jack and Montgomery, before proving pretty and canny enough to switch allegiances.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
In the post-colonial era, Arab dictators established secular laws, but these legal systems favored the ruling clique.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The Friends set was notorious for being cliquey and insular.
—Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clique
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clique
Noun
-
Stacy Jennings posted 2 hits, 2 RBIs and a walk while also dominating in the circle, allowing three hits and zero earned runs.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
-
It had been mounted on a small platform, which bore a little icon of a pair of feet inside a backslash circle, as though stepping into a guillotine were every museumgoer’s wish.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On the night of Cabo Verde’s qualifying victory, Moreira recalled, players celebrated on a beach with crowds of fans.—
Albert Samaha,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Monday’s start represented the largest home crowd (36,702) that Cabrera has ever pitched in front of in his career.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Moon squares Jupiter, pitting your ambitious 10th house against your friendly 7th house.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But the financial institutions have begun to crowd out the city’s signature and historically local retail and restaurant-friendly Miracle Mile strip.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The state is investing $6 billion to expand the state’s broadband network and increase Internet links for families and businesses.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
4 Apr. 2026
-
But for Perez and others at the motel, the organizations have assembled a spontaneous network of like-minded people that have created a village of care.—
Lauren Costantino,
Miami Herald,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The flood of immigrants who settled in the area were a motley crew – clannish Scandinavians, Germans, Irish Catholics escaping famine, Yankees from New England, Black refugees from the segregated South, Mexican workers seeking a better life.—
Harry Boyte,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Musk’s companies have always been financially linked to one another in a clannish sort of way, but the reality is: All these AI startups and companies are investing in and selling to one another.—
Allie Garfinkle,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Meanwhile, just outside, worship continued, as faith leaders and community members took part in a Holy Thursday service of their own.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Another effort will be going into local schools to make sure students understand that a simple mistake can be the start of something tragic for everyone in the mountain communities.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The birding site notes that hummingbirds migrate alone, often following familiar paths, and can travel up to 500 miles at a time at speeds of 20 to 30 mph.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Bogen says the pattern is familiar from older Internet platforms, where small behavioral cues became signals that shaped what users saw and how they were categorized.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And if a bunch of independent enthusiasts can uncover this much information with public tools, this fast, imagine what a properly coordinated and resourced regulatory effort could achieve.—
Nic Puckrin,
Fortune,
2 Apr. 2026
-
There's a bunch of power lines down.—
Noel Brennan,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clique.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clique. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
