1
as in veterans
a person with long experience in a specified area
considered the doyen of American art critics
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deans
the senior member of a group
he's the doyen of American museum directors, and his opinion has considerable weight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of doyens
One of the doyens of Portuguese coaching, who has managed each of the big three in their home country and led Al Hilal to the title in 2023-24 after a 34-game unbeaten streak, was personally convinced by Ronaldo to cross the divide.
—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Murray’s focus on tax measures in his quote may dampen expectations that the Labour government is about to improve the high-end TV tax credit, which industry doyens have been calling for for some time now.
—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Murray’s focus on tax measures in his quote may dampen expectations that the Labour government is about to improve the high-end TV tax credit, which industry doyens have been calling for for some time now.
—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for doyens
Noun
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Players are expected to commit themselves to a franchise, while teams frequently reward veterans with contractual stability.
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The Portage home was gifted to Shawn and Rosa and their four daughters through Homes for Heroes, which helps veterans and first responders.
Noun
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Pageants, deans' lists, graduations or military enlistments are not accepted.
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Lloyd was born in Berkeley and raised in Lafayette by his parents, Lester Lloyd, one of the deans of the San Francisco printing industry, and Mildred Lloyd, a librarian at Stanley Middle School.
Noun
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On most measures, young people are more pessimistic than their elders about the future of the country and the resilience of the American dream, the aspiration that has fueled generations of Americans.
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At first Zeke seems the very embodiment of older generations’ complaints about GenZ ennui, but Rice isn’t taking cheap shots — not least since since his elders-but-not-wisers get no more flattering a portrait once George (Camp) enters the scene.
Cite this Entry
“Doyens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/doyens. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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