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
Such an agreement would require battling — and even dismantling — an entrenched and incompetent bureaucracy to speed up economic reforms, and getting rid of old-school historic commanders and everyone else in the government, the Communist Party and the top military echelons standing in the way.
—
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
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
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
Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 23 Apr. 2026
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
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
-
But as online marketplaces widen their delivery network across the country and social media marketing levels the playing field, direct-to-consumer, or D2C, brands are on the rise in India, according to experts.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
7 May 2026
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These are trade-offs that can be negotiated, at both the local and national levels, to benefit our communities.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Long-time Metro Transit police officer Joe Dotseth, who rose through the department’s ranks, became interim police chief when Morales left the department.—
Mara H. Gottfried,
Twin Cities,
4 May 2026
-
Some of the measures were put in place in recent months in the wake of the killing of a top general in December, which sparked a dispute in the top ranks of Russia’s security establishment, the report says.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
The Kansas Jayhawks football team is undergoing significant change this spring with a new-look roster, fresh coaching arrangements and open competitions at key positions.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
6 May 2026
-
Achane is one of the most explosive skill positions players in the league.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
These tiny pots can be found on plants, rocks, pieces of wood and other places.—
Pamm Cooper,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
Other cruise lines are altering itineraries to route around places affected by the temporary prohibition.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 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 May. 2026.
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