as in dean
the senior member of a group
the elder statesman of the White House correspondents is finally retiring after nearly a half century of service
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Recent Examples of elder statesman
The franchise’s elder statesmen understand that Jokic is an inextricable aspect of any conversation about Murray’s developing legacy.
—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2026
Mandelson, a former Cabinet minister, ambassador and elder statesman of the governing Labour Party, has not been arrested or charged.
—
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Mandelson, a former Cabinet minister, ambassador and elder statesman of the governing Labour Party, has not been arrested or charged.
—
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Mandelson, a former Cabinet minister, ambassador and elder statesman of the governing Labor Party, has not been arrested or charged.
—
Sylvia Hui,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elder statesman
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
15 Feb. 2026
Mandelson, a former Cabinet minister, ambassador and elder statesman of the governing Labour Party, has not been arrested or charged.
—
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Mandelson, a former Cabinet minister, ambassador and elder statesman of the governing Labour Party, has not been arrested or charged.
—
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Mandelson, a former Cabinet minister, ambassador and elder statesman of the governing Labor Party, has not been arrested or charged.
—
Sylvia Hui,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elder statesman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elder statesman
Noun
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Pageants, deans' lists, graduations or military enlistments are not accepted.
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Before serving as president of the University of Alabama, Bell served as provost and professor of engineering at Louisiana State University and as dean of the School of Engineering and professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Kansas.
Noun
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Morris, his wife, Debbie, the church, along with a group of current and former church elders and a former employee, still face a $1 million defamation suit filed by Cindy Clemishire and her father.
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Meanwhile, the Gen Zers now aging into homebuying represent a smaller cohort than their elders.
Noun
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The veteran guard joined the Nuggets in 2025 on a one-year veteran minimum contract and went on to post one of the best shooting seasons of his career.
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Trump’s order calls for veterans from around the country to come for rehabilitative services.
Cite this Entry
“Elder statesman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elder%20statesman. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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