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 While choosing the layout, the tribe hosted listening sessions with community members and elders. — Sarah Liese, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 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. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 In Japanese culture, young people are expected to greet their elders with a profound bow. — Chandler Rome, New York Times, 1 July 2026 Any money Fawn Bluff eventually makes will be spent locally, but Homalco elders and other partners are already part of the project. — The Editors, Robb Report, 27 June 2026 Many of them have been with us for over 10 years, have amazing relationships with our elders, provide 24-hour care for them, all day, every day. — Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026 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. — Giles Hudson, CBS News, 24 June 2026 Meanwhile, the Gen Zers now aging into homebuying represent a smaller cohort than their elders. — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 24 June 2026 On most measures, young people are more pessimistic than their elders about the future of the country and the resilience of the American dream, the aspiration that has fueled generations of Americans. — Susan Page, USA Today, 22 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elders

Noun

Recently, there was a news story about an unlicensed childcare program in Goshen, Indiana found to be illegally operating with over 85 children and only three adults.

— Kristin Stauss, Washington Post, 10 July 2026
For context, the Institute of Medicine recommends that adults eat 50 to 175 grams of protein per day, based on a number of factors including age, body weight and exercise.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 10, Charlotte Observer, 10 July 2026

Definition of adults

Noun

For example, women athletes are routinely portrayed as emotional, powerless, and reliant on their coaches or superiors, resulting in their infantilization, all while their men athlete counterparts are framed as rational and confident.

— Lindsey Darvin, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
The investigation, according to the archives, cited several factors as contributing to the tragedy, including Holland’s disregard of procedures, the failure of superiors to take previous action and the inadequate preparation of crew members aboard the doomed plane.

— Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 16 June 2026

Definition of superiors

Noun

However, when her island's resources are threatened, Moana embraces her ancestors' voyaging heritage and heads out to sea to find Maui, deliver the heart of Te Fiti (which Maui stole back in the day) and save her people.

— Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 July 2026
The plants and animals Williford’s ancestors held relationships with became strangers.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

Definition of ancestors

Noun

Pageants, deans' lists, graduations or military enlistments are not accepted.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 June 2026
Lloyd was born in Berkeley and raised in Lafayette by his parents, Lester Lloyd, one of the deans of the San Francisco printing industry, and Mildred Lloyd, a librarian at Stanley Middle School.

— Martha Ross, Mercury News, 28 May 2026

Definition of deans

Noun

The money will finance dozens of routine but essential items, such as a new roof, a 24-seat school bus and outrigger canoes that will be used by military veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress.

— Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
Brit Elazouar has been cast in the lead role of Jason, a young police officer on his first assignment with an elite tactical unit of Afghanistan veterans.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 9 July 2026