elder

Definition of eldernext
1
2
as in superior
one who is above another in rank, station, or office as your elder in the company, he is within his rights to tell you what to do

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in ancestor
one who is older than another it wouldn't hurt to show a little more respect for your elders

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of elder Teenagers are more inclined than their elders to get news from nontraditional sources such as social media and influencers, heralding a generational shift in how people seek out information. ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026 As an elder, Mellencamp often jokes about how many tours he was fired from in his salad days, usually because the headlining acts (KISS, REO Speedwagon, British hard rock act Rainbow) and their audiences didn’t take to his kiss-off attitude and misfit energy. Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026 The home delivery system for elders who can’t leave their homes has also been affected by the fuel cuts. Sarah Moreno updated April 29, Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026 Cutting short the New York Health Act is a shame and disrespects our elders, let alone others with disabilities. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elder
Noun
  • As a senior, the new-and-improved Maloney earned first-team All-Dade honors, leading the 2015 Explorers to a 13-2 record and the Class 8A state semifinals.
    Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Some of the townhomes would have first-floor master suites aimed at seniors, according to plans submitted to the Town Plan and Zoning Commission.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Brown’s team submitted an affidavit to superiors at the DOJ that did not make a strong enough case to move forward with what Olsen wanted.
    ProPublica, ProPublica, 1 May 2026
  • Lower-ranking officers were able to tell their superiors what wasn’t going well and argue forcefully for changing course.
    Cody Turner, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • The Declaration had many ancestors.
    Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Hallmark’s Romance at Hope Ranch star Hogan will be taking on the role of Grayson Goodwin in the new season, portraying a descendant of one of Port Haven’s founders, Cyrus Goodwin, and an ancestor of Casey Goodwin.
    Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
Noun
  • Possibly this was the case at élite law schools in the nineteen-nineties, where even the most obdurate deans could not afford to ignore their militant students indefinitely.
    Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Many move around the country, going from deans to vice presidents, and on to president, and by that time they are conditioned to stay within the traditional behaviors of corporate expectations, where regularity is valued, and disruption is thought to create corporate liability.
    Matthew G. Andersson, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Noun
  • Most oldsters like myself still will probably find revisiting the piece enjoyable.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Those devoted to the Charli cause will no doubt get more out of the film than an out-of-touch oldster like myself ever could.
    Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Menin has supported Wilson, Bottcher’s former chief of staff, who had his ex-boss’s blessing in the race.
    Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 29 Apr. 2026
  • On behalf of everyone at Disney, on behalf of [new CEO] Josh [D’Amaro] and [Disney Entertainment, Studios, chairman] Alan Bergman and [FX boss] John Landgraf and Debra OConnell, our new head of Disney Entertainment Television.
    Michael Schneider, Variety, 28 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Purrazzo also has the opportunity to help veterans and first-responders in need.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
  • In 1984, Monsanto and six other chemical companies agreed to pay a $180 million settlement to Vietnam veterans who were exposed to the chemical herbicide Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2026
Noun
  • Most American medical schools ensure that every student rotates through pediatrics; far fewer require a dedicated geriatrics rotation.
    Ken Dychtwald, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2026
  • In Episode 12, Robby suggested Mohan's skill set and work rate were both better suited for geriatrics.
    Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Elder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elder. Accessed 11 May. 2026.

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