as in levels
the placement of someone or something in relation to others in a vertical arrangement
jobs in the upper echelons of the company pay quite well indeed
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Recent Examples of echelons
Their proof would become the signature result of Tao’s early career, contributing to his winning the Fields Medal in 2006, and propelling him to the upper echelons of mathematics.
—
Quanta Magazine, 8 June 2026
Cruelty and ruthlessness are deemed just, not only in the highest echelons of politics but also trickling down to daily life.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
There’s often a great deal of hype (some deserved, some not) and vendor promises about transformation and new echelons of efficiency.
—Eddy Azad, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Pop didn’t seem to fully go all-in on Grande until Sweetener and Thank U, Next catapulted her into the highest echelons of the genre.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026
The film meticulously recreated their steps in linking the Watergate break-in and Republican ‘dirty tricks’ campaign to the highest echelons of power in America.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 17 May 2026
Weiss and others with similar beliefs are getting a boost from the highest echelons of the Israeli government.
—Shira Pinson, NBC news, 17 May 2026
Schaffer and other insiders point out that several of the issues that keep women directors from the highest echelons of the international film industry are systemic, from education and mentorship to financing and distribution.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Extrajudicial killings spread across the country when Duterte became president and Dela Rosa ascended the upper echelons of the national police force, according to Human Rights Watch.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Quanta Magazine, 8 June 2026
Cruelty and ruthlessness are deemed just, not only in the highest echelons of politics but also trickling down to daily life.
—Literary Hub, 21 May 2026
There’s often a great deal of hype (some deserved, some not) and vendor promises about transformation and new echelons of efficiency.
—Eddy Azad, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Pop didn’t seem to fully go all-in on Grande until Sweetener and Thank U, Next catapulted her into the highest echelons of the genre.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 20 May 2026
The film meticulously recreated their steps in linking the Watergate break-in and Republican ‘dirty tricks’ campaign to the highest echelons of power in America.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 17 May 2026
Weiss and others with similar beliefs are getting a boost from the highest echelons of the Israeli government.
—Shira Pinson, NBC news, 17 May 2026
Schaffer and other insiders point out that several of the issues that keep women directors from the highest echelons of the international film industry are systemic, from education and mentorship to financing and distribution.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Extrajudicial killings spread across the country when Duterte became president and Dela Rosa ascended the upper echelons of the national police force, according to Human Rights Watch.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for echelons
Noun
-
While in a game with an improved pace, high school athletes in Texas will receive valuable experience in a game more similar to the collegiate and professional levels.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 June 2026
-
The team now plans stratospheric flights later this year, targeting altitudes above 40,000 feet—higher than typical passenger airliner cruise levels.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Castle said victims are too often left with limited options when allegations are mishandled or ignored within the ranks.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2026
-
The list complied with a 2013 congressional mandate to capture a better picture of the faith and beliefs in the ranks.—
Luis Martinez,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Musiala often operates in advanced central positions, giving him multiple routes to fantasy returns.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
-
While many money managers view the company as a unique asset with dominant positions in rocket launches and satellite internet, other long-term investors are questioning whether today’s valuation already reflects much of that optimism.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Take inventory of your life this year, and let go of people, places and things that have held you back.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
30 May 2026
-
Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, The Paris Review Daily, The Cut, Tin House, The Guardian, Guernica, The Normal School, The Poetry Foundation, Lambda Literary, and many other places.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Texas dominated many national rankings in the report as well, with the ZIP code encompassing the Dallas suburb of Crandall ranking second on the list and a more urban Dallas ZIP code ranking 10th.—
Faith Bugenhagen,
Austin American Statesman,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Echelons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/echelons. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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