1
as in adult
a person of advanced years
in that Asian society elders are accorded great respect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
as in dean
the senior member of a group
as the elder of the contingent of living former presidents, he was accorded a place of highest honor at the ceremonies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Japan and South Korea continue long-running work on humanoids for service and elder-care roles, while established industrial robot makers have explored human-assist systems for years.
—
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
First, many local elder services access points train and maintain a group of volunteer visitors for isolated elders in their community.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
As Simeon and Tupe engaged in soothing effleurage and loudly vigorous tapotement, respectively, six Maori women surrounded their tables and sang folk songs in harmony, guided by an elder in the audience with a long, gnarled cane.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Directly referencing elders in such a manner is exceptionally rare in ancient inscriptions, underscoring the significance of the find.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elder
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2025
First, many local elder services access points train and maintain a group of volunteer visitors for isolated elders in their community.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 10 Sep. 2025
As Simeon and Tupe engaged in soothing effleurage and loudly vigorous tapotement, respectively, six Maori women surrounded their tables and sang folk songs in harmony, guided by an elder in the audience with a long, gnarled cane.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Directly referencing elders in such a manner is exceptionally rare in ancient inscriptions, underscoring the significance of the find.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elder
Noun
-
During Full House, Sweetin said the child actors would often come across as more professional than their adult counterparts amid all the tomfoolery.—
Daysia Tolentino,
Entertainment Weekly,
14 Sep. 2025
-
For decades, the mighty roars of dinosaurs have thundered through movies, TV shows, and filled the imaginations of children and adults alike.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Driscoll indicated his belief that Patel’s reference to his superiors meant the Justice Department and the White House, and Patel did not deny it.—
Rebecca Beitsch,
The Hill,
15 Sep. 2025
-
These include helping your family, helping your group, demonstrating reciprocity, demonstrating bravery, respecting a hierarchy and your superiors, dividing resources in an equitable way and respecting ownership of property.—
Tracy Brower,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The norm is for ancient dugouts found in southern Florida to be linked to ancestors of the Calusa, the Seminole or the Miccosukee, according to the Florida Division of Historical Resources.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
-
This provides excellent evidence that all life on Earth shares one common ancestor.—
Thomas Moynihan,
Big Think,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
News reports chronicle backlash against a MSNBC analyst, a Middle Tennessee State University assistant dean of students, a University of Mississippi employee and a communications coordinator for the Carolina Panthers.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The professor promptly lost her job, and the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and the head of the English department were both removed from their positions.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But Italian brainrot’s invisible massiveness, totally foreign to oldsters but beloved by children across continents and languages, is a compelling and chilling showcase of our frazzled internet culture landscape.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Uncle Herschel, the seated oldster in Cracker Barrel’s iconic logo, is not only a character from corporate lore, the founder’s real-life uncle, but a representative, even an aspirational, figure for a certain kind of American.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Recently, her boss asked the group who would be able to stay late to finish up a few reports.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
14 Sep. 2025
-
While Kimmie worked as a dancer at the club, Jules (who serves as both Bellaire’s head of security and the boss at Norman’s secret strip club) forced her to be Roy's prostitute.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Its proposals to support grocery stores in stocking more produce, introduce markets to food deserts, serve healthy meals to students and veterans, and limit junk-food ads targeted at children all sound promising, but the report offers few specifics on implementation.—
Yasmin Tayag,
The Atlantic,
14 Sep. 2025
-
According to a statement from the North Little Rock police Department, Norman, a 27-year veteran of the department, was charged with one count of domestic battery in the third degree.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Your ability to move with or without ease comes down to muscle mass, range of motion, flexibility, and energy levels, according to Richard Dupee, MD, chief of geriatrics at Tufts Medical Center.—
Sydney Wingfield,
Health,
26 Aug. 2025
-
It also was listed in the top 50 in cancer, cardiology and vascular surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, geriatrics, urology, and neurology and neurosurgery.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elder. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share