1
as in associates
a person frequently seen in the company of another
the criminal's cronies were also closely questioned about the illegal gambling operation
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2
as in friends
a person who has a strong liking for and trust in another
only my cronies can call me by my nickname
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cronies
Her earliest moments in the show have shades of a western—No Country for Old Men with a side of devout Trump supporters, sniffer dogs, petrifying cronies, and balloons stuffed with fentanyl and swallowed with lube.
—
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2026
Too many department heads are cronies, not experienced experts.
—Hal Valderhaug, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Slowly, Castro’s cronies built a kleptocracy that proved ruinous to the Cuban people, but hugely profitable to them.
—Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Perpetuating the Castros or some of their cronies….
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
And at a time when the president of the United States and his cronies have embarked on a bid to make the country less democratic and less pluralistic, a media company that has shown a clear willingness to align itself with that mission is about to get dramatically bigger.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Did Iran nominate Bibi cronies with inexperienced backgrounds to run Israel’s most important security organizations — the Shin Bet and Mossad?
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
Of course, by then our 47th president and his cronies will be long gone, but those who struggle to survive the violent disruption of climate change will curse the man whose mindless decision in 2026 spelled the end of a global attempt to save the planet.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
To instead watch the racial-slur slinging Kid Rock and his MAGA cronies.
—Prince J. Grimes, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Radhika Seth, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2026
Too many department heads are cronies, not experienced experts.
—Hal Valderhaug, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Slowly, Castro’s cronies built a kleptocracy that proved ruinous to the Cuban people, but hugely profitable to them.
—Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Perpetuating the Castros or some of their cronies….
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2026
And at a time when the president of the United States and his cronies have embarked on a bid to make the country less democratic and less pluralistic, a media company that has shown a clear willingness to align itself with that mission is about to get dramatically bigger.
—Josef Adalian, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Did Iran nominate Bibi cronies with inexperienced backgrounds to run Israel’s most important security organizations — the Shin Bet and Mossad?
—Thomas L. Friedman, Mercury News, 21 Feb. 2026
Of course, by then our 47th president and his cronies will be long gone, but those who struggle to survive the violent disruption of climate change will curse the man whose mindless decision in 2026 spelled the end of a global attempt to save the planet.
—Letters To The Editor, Hartford Courant, 19 Feb. 2026
To instead watch the racial-slur slinging Kid Rock and his MAGA cronies.
—Prince J. Grimes, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cronies
Noun
-
Fiapoto is only the latest Tre-4 member to face serious charges in Contra Costa, where five members and associates were sent to prison last year for a series of jewelry robberies, including one that resulted in a homicide in Lafayette.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The crony capitalism of Orban’s network of associates — and the spending of taxpayer and EU funds on pet projects in his hometown — painted a picture of corruption and caused Brussels to withhold billions of euros in support.—
Lionel Laurent,
Twin Cities,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Pack your phone, wallet, keys, and other essentials, like a glasses case and lip gloss, and prepare to head out for a date night or brunch with friends.—
Averi Baudler,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The show follows two upper-crust friends, Julia (O’Hara) and Jane (Byrne), who discover their former lover Maurice (Mark Consuelos) has touched down in London while their husbands are on a golf trip.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Most importantly, Charnoz and his colleagues’ results clustered into three mineralogical families that closely resemble the composition of the three main chondrite types.—
Javier Barbuzano,
Scientific American,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Fernandez said the broad support for his proposal among his commission colleagues runs counter to public narratives about tow companies wielding undue influence in Miami Beach.—
Aaron Leibowitz,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
A lot of my high school buddies — and college guys, too — were joining.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2026
-
One of his battle buddies lost was Master Sgt.—
Reg Chapman,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But that headline figure masks a growing divide between two cohorts with almost nothing in common economically.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Administrators say those outcomes are consistent across cohorts, with Brown noting that improvements often extend beyond individual students and into their families and communities.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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None of the three had anything to do with the crimes committed by their husbands, but they’ve all been shunned by neighbors and friends, and viewed as accomplices by outsiders.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
19 Apr. 2026
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The siblings are then forced to become accomplices.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Tormented by her own fears, doubted by her father’s peers, and infantilized by her older sister, Catherine (Ayo Edebiri in her Broadway debut) walks the line between self-confidence and deep distrust.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
-
For example, to nail an interview, present in front of peers, or even just handle opposing opinions in the office.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cronies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cronies. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
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