ELDERS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

elders

noun

plural of elder

as in adults

a person of advanced years in that Asian society elders are accorded great respect

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as in superiors

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

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as in ancestors

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

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as in deans

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

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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 elders Our elders deserve to feel safe and the office's Elder Abuse Section is committed to holding those who harm them fully accountable. — Chelsea Hylton, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026 In Gaza City, community elders, mokhtars, local dignitaries and civil defense crews gathered Tuesday for a mass funeral after the recovery effort that was accomplished with a single excavator and simple hand tools. — Bilal Shbeir, Los Angeles Times, 5 Aug. 2026 In that case, the refreshingly old-school Prime Video teen drama Sterling Point might really hit the spot for Gen Z and their nostalgic elders. — Judy Berman, Time, 4 Aug. 2026 Seventy percent of the workforce are caregivers of children, elders, people with disabilities, or others. — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Their theater attendance purportedly outstripped that of their elders; their tastes in video-game franchises and low-budget horror undeniably carried the day. — Sophia Nguyen, The Atlantic, 2 Aug. 2026 Its inhabitants remain largely indifferent to the independence movement; village elders reason that freedom will benefit the educated while cultivators will merely exchange one set of masters for another. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026 Young orcas then gobbled up fish fragments that drifted through the water as their elders tore into what was left of the sunfish’s corpse. — Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 23 July 2026 Many of those elders wanted to express their personal connection to the film’s story, something Riedel regards as a part of his reconnection to his community. — Jennie Punter, Variety, 21 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elders

Noun

My attitude, when adults behave like middle-schoolers, is to take the high road and ignore it.

— R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile, the older adults’ confidence dropped, aligning with previous research showing that older adults are generally better able to gauge their ability to perform complex tasks.

— C. Michael White, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of adults

Noun

Those with the funds to file a court case, essentially suing the Italian state for sexism against their female ancestors, are likely to win, but legal action is lengthy and costly.

— Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
Therefore, this benefit must reach everyone, not only those whose ancestors match the reference sets from past decades.

— William A. Haseltine, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of ancestors

Noun

Licht sounded even more confident in the Bucs’ relationship with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who will play under the final year of his contract after the club failed to meet his deadline to reach an extension when veterans reported.

— Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026
After taking a few classes in the drone program, Medina was introduced to Vets to Drones, a free network of veterans, instructors and organizations who provide training and mentorship to connect veterans with the drone workforce.

— Lillian Ashworth, Oc Register, 6 Aug. 2026