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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of cronies
This state judge and her cronies allegedly abused that high honor for personal gain by preying on the needy protected by the court.
—
Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
And the job is to separate those working-class voters from the cronies.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
The strike had been touched off by employees of PDVSA, the Venezuelan national oil company, who objected to Chavez summarily firing experienced, technocratic PDVSA executives and replacing them with political cronies.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
Because all the wealth of that country was stolen to the benefit of Maduro and his cronies and the regime, but not to the benefit of people of Venezuela.
—NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
Hitler and his cronies characterized this as a national emasculation destined to be avenged with a Third Reich that would last a thousand years.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Rockwell and his business cronies turn up in the audience to watch Japanese dynamo Endo (Koto Kawaguchi) wipe the floor with Marty.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 1 Dec. 2025
Californians are eager for a new way forward and only a Sheriff can clean up the mess left behind by Newsom and his cronies.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Batman and Gordon sneak into Ace Chemicals and face off against Red Hood and his cronies.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Joseph Buczek, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
And the job is to separate those working-class voters from the cronies.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
The strike had been touched off by employees of PDVSA, the Venezuelan national oil company, who objected to Chavez summarily firing experienced, technocratic PDVSA executives and replacing them with political cronies.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
Because all the wealth of that country was stolen to the benefit of Maduro and his cronies and the regime, but not to the benefit of people of Venezuela.
—NBC news, 4 Jan. 2026
Hitler and his cronies characterized this as a national emasculation destined to be avenged with a Third Reich that would last a thousand years.
—Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Rockwell and his business cronies turn up in the audience to watch Japanese dynamo Endo (Koto Kawaguchi) wipe the floor with Marty.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 1 Dec. 2025
Californians are eager for a new way forward and only a Sheriff can clean up the mess left behind by Newsom and his cronies.
—Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Batman and Gordon sneak into Ace Chemicals and face off against Red Hood and his cronies.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cronies
Noun
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Included in the batch were records concerning some of Epstein's famous associates, including Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly known as Britain's Prince Andrew, as well as email correspondence between Epstein and Elon Musk and other prominent contacts from across the political spectrum.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
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Blanche declined to comment on whether there was still an ongoing investigation related to Epstein's associates, and pushed back on allegations that the Department is selectively holding back files that might be damaging to the President, who has a long history with Epstein going back decades.—
Philip Wang,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
She was also spotted alongside friends and family celebrating Skenes winning the award during the selection show after the 2025 season.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
2 Feb. 2026
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Tokyo — An Australian snowboarder has died on a trip with friends to Japan after her backpack became caught in a ski lift leaving her suspended in midair, according to Japanese police and the lift operator.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Some colleagues left their jobs, but others navigated the situation and rose into more powerful positions.—
Chris Lipp,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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South Florida viewers and TV colleagues were mourning this week after learning that a familiar weather personality had died in a plane crash.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The viewer might wonder if the scene of Anna interacting with neighbor James (Shane Harper) and his drinking buddies, who are hanging out on lawn chairs in the drive, elicits more anxiety for her safety than the director intended.—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Our buddies who also run chess clubs don’t have as many women (in their clubs), either.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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On the other hand, after years of higher-than-ideal inflation rates, lower-income cohorts are struggling to afford necessities such as housing, groceries and gasoline.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Over the weekend, business leaders offered a mix of responses after federal agents shot Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, revealing yet again how one of America’s most powerful cohorts is — publicly, at least — carrying on with business as usual.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Méndez Aguilar is accused of working that day with at least four accomplices, including a 16-year-old — Maria, who is in protective custody — and a 19-year-old named Joselin.—
Kevin Maurer,
Rolling Stone,
13 Jan. 2026
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Add the pathetic reality that Illinois is the very definition of unfriendliness for business development and job creation, and the only thing Pritzker and his accomplices can campaign on is the vilification of Trump, facts be damned.—
Paul Miller,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For the young generation of digital natives navigating AI anxiety around keeping up with peers using the technology and AI displacing them from jobs, the fear of the technology making people dumber is dominant.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
30 Jan. 2026
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The students also took turns chanting, with one leading the charge at the front of the line with a bullhorn, encouraging her peers to repeat her slogans.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cronies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cronies. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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