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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Example Sentences
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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.
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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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Ian Williamson, dean of the business school, said the new federal policy played a role in the decision as well as student scheduling preferences.
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But Erwin Chemerinsky, Berkeley’s law school dean, said Trump still won most of the cases the court decided either after oral arguments or through emergency appeals the administration brought.
Noun
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While choosing the layout, the tribe hosted listening sessions with community members and elders.
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More important for the purposes of the Social Media Minimum Age’s failure is that Aussie youth undeniably know technology better than do their elders in Parliament.
Noun
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And a quieter sky genuinely matters to veterans with PTSD, to parents of sensory-sensitive kids, and to every dog that spends the Fourth wedged under a bed.
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Condrey is a writer, veteran and formerly homeless resident of San Diego.
Cite this Entry
“Elder statesman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elder%20statesman. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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