1
as in adults
a person of advanced years
in that Asian society elders are accorded great respect
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ancestors
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elders
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
Our elders know how to make tools and sealskin pants the right way.
—Jennie Punter, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
And day one did not turn into the Freak-out of the Gen Alphas that elders might have predicted.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 5 Sep. 2025
Or elders and younger people get to talk to each other.
—Carmen Rios, Flow Space, 5 Sep. 2025
Growing up with her dad — songwriter and producer Kim Bullard who played with Crosby, Stills, & Nash, and Simon & Garfunkel — as well as elders who were all musicians, Rose learned how to flesh out her poetry into songs.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Newsweek has reported on where the impacts are already being felt in India, with some elders being abandoned by their children.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Some of the young may also inherit some of their elders’ money, too.
—Allison Schrager, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Riley might have cast such a group as brutally anti-feminist, the novelistic equivalent of the polygamist compound in the HBO series Big Love, where girls are heavily groomed by the community’s elders and poverty prevents them from leaving.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2025
Our elders know how to make tools and sealskin pants the right way.
—Jennie Punter, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
And day one did not turn into the Freak-out of the Gen Alphas that elders might have predicted.
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 5 Sep. 2025
Or elders and younger people get to talk to each other.
—Carmen Rios, Flow Space, 5 Sep. 2025
Growing up with her dad — songwriter and producer Kim Bullard who played with Crosby, Stills, & Nash, and Simon & Garfunkel — as well as elders who were all musicians, Rose learned how to flesh out her poetry into songs.
—Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Newsweek has reported on where the impacts are already being felt in India, with some elders being abandoned by their children.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
Some of the young may also inherit some of their elders’ money, too.
—Allison Schrager, Boston Herald, 31 Aug. 2025
Riley might have cast such a group as brutally anti-feminist, the novelistic equivalent of the polygamist compound in the HBO series Big Love, where girls are heavily groomed by the community’s elders and poverty prevents them from leaving.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elders
Noun
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Another would allow kids as young as 14 to be tried as adults for certain crimes.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
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Advertisement Other proposals include lowering the age of juveniles who can be prosecuted as adults from 16 to 14 and allowing the president to appoint the city’s attorney general.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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When there is an incident involving the police, such as an arrest or a traffic stop, police officers should assume they are being watched by their body cameras, which could then be inspected by their superiors.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This is where our ancestors died protecting a way of life.—
Richard B. Williams,
Denver Post,
10 Sep. 2025
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By this time, humans had arrived in North America, likely via the same Bering Land Bridge used by the lions’ ancestors.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The university’s central office and the deans’ offices are working to eliminate administration positions, officials added.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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As this beat writer has previously pointed out, Evero’s history has been partial to playing veterans early on in a season.—
Mike Kaye
September 10,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Four people will testify at the hearing, including three military veterans and one journalist.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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Plus, lest oldsters forget, Buckingham Fountain is romantic.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Sacramento leaders will consider four new locations for homeless people, including three tiny home communities designated for seniors at a monthly fee.—
Mathew Miranda,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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Some, Book noted, entered the new permanent supportive housing projects the Trust stood up this year — including Hideaway on the Bay in Cutler Bay, where 70-plus formerly homeless seniors now live.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
“Elders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elders. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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