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
From the upper echelons of global logistics to the cutting edge of industrial energy, this week’s business landscape is defined by transition and rapid scaling.
—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2026
That consciousness even reached the upper echelons of medicine.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Instead, more households are climbing into the echelons of the upper middle class due to income gains in recent decades, according to research from the nonpartisan American Enterprise Institute.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
Years in the making At the center of the prosecution is a sweeping federal indictment that paints a stark picture of Venezuela’s upper echelons of power, alleging that for more than two decades the country’s leadership turned the machinery of the state into a vehicle for narcotics trafficking.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
Since the war began, monitors estimate that up to a third of strikes have targeted the top echelons and major bases of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and its Basij volunteers tasked with enforcing loyalty to Iran’s theocratic rulers.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
At the same time, China’s appetite for conflict has likely been dampened by struggles to support its slowing domestic economy, as well as a string of dismissals in the top echelons of its own military.
—Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
The Israeli government announced its forces killed Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, in strikes on March 17, eliminating one of the country's most powerful political figures who once pushed for a nuclear peace deal and spent decades in the upper echelons of the Islamic Republic.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
But, with Xi Jinping’s endorsement of the classics, Liu’s Straussian ideas have percolated into the upper echelons of the Party.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2026
That consciousness even reached the upper echelons of medicine.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026
Instead, more households are climbing into the echelons of the upper middle class due to income gains in recent decades, according to research from the nonpartisan American Enterprise Institute.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
Years in the making At the center of the prosecution is a sweeping federal indictment that paints a stark picture of Venezuela’s upper echelons of power, alleging that for more than two decades the country’s leadership turned the machinery of the state into a vehicle for narcotics trafficking.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
Since the war began, monitors estimate that up to a third of strikes have targeted the top echelons and major bases of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and its Basij volunteers tasked with enforcing loyalty to Iran’s theocratic rulers.
—Sarah El Deeb, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
At the same time, China’s appetite for conflict has likely been dampened by struggles to support its slowing domestic economy, as well as a string of dismissals in the top echelons of its own military.
—Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 19 Mar. 2026
The Israeli government announced its forces killed Iran's security chief, Ali Larijani, in strikes on March 17, eliminating one of the country's most powerful political figures who once pushed for a nuclear peace deal and spent decades in the upper echelons of the Islamic Republic.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
But, with Xi Jinping’s endorsement of the classics, Liu’s Straussian ideas have percolated into the upper echelons of the Party.
—Chang Che, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for echelons
Noun
-
Water is receding, but Narsesian said levels are still high and the ice still is out there.—
Sarah Brumfield,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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The 2026 allergy season is objectively worse than last year’s, driven by warmer temperatures and rising CO2 levels pushing plants to produce more pollen than ever before.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Rival streaming services are also beefing up the ranks of their podcasts.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
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The news comes amid a string of changes to Apple’s executive ranks in late 2025, including the departures of its AI chief, policy head and one of its top design leaders.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Now, even in 2026 with ginormous needs at multiple defensive positions such as linebacker, cornerback and defensive end, this concept could still show up in the first round.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Apr. 2026
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University officials have said their final offer includes multiple wage increases and hourly rates comparable to similar positions at other area employers, WGLT reported.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Wolves, who immediately finished in the Europa League places in 2019 after a six-season spell away from the top flight, offer a more realistic target.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Not in the offseason, when their coaching staffs and front offices regularly trade places.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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 27 Apr. 2026.
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