elite 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of elitenext
as in exclusive

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elite

2 of 2

noun

i-ˈlēt How to pronounce elite (audio)
1
as in aristocracy
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class the winners of this science award represent the elite of our high schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nobility
the highest class in a society the country's elite owned or controlled most of the wealth

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 elite
Adjective
The rise to the top of the C-suite isn’t always defined by family connections and elite credentials. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2026 Lombard, a former first-round pick, has significantly improved his minor league hitting this season, complementing his elite athleticism. — Chuck Murr, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
The wrists and necks of fashion’s elite are stacked with them in vibey downtowns across the world. — Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026 Under the Assad regime, the parliament functioned as a ceremonial fig leaf that served political elites and passed laws that stripped ordinary Syrians of their basic rights. — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elite
  1. exclusive
  2. aristocracy
  3. nobility
  4. special
  5. best
  6. gentry
  7. better
  8. top
Adjective
  • In addition the awards themselves, winners will participate in a weekend of education programing, networking opportunities and exclusive access to Academy members to support their career advancement.
    — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, winners will have a robust weekend of education programming, networking opportunities, and exclusive access to Academy members to support their career advancement.
    — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of exclusive
Noun
  • The latter category, anticipating biomimicry, is well represented by the automata that captivated the aristocracy in the following century.
    — Jonathon Keats, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • At last, Jones also thought, there was a chance to spotlight the dynamic between North Wales‘ working-class community and its aristocracy on the big screen, a corner of Britain’s social history that has long been sidelined.
    — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 29 June 2026
Definition of aristocracy
Noun
  • The idea is to portray them with the same nobility and dignity as the figures of the great masters.
    — Robbie Griffiths, NPR, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Along the way, Brees stared NFL QB nobility in the face and took each player down one by one.
    — Larry Holder, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of nobility
Adjective
  • Bloomfield oversees the resort’s culinary activities too, like a fireside supper for two and a special picnic basket to take on a scenic hike.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
  • She’s hired a former Georgia Supreme Court chief justice as a special prosecutor to get the state’s appellate courts to weigh in.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of special
Noun
  • Scott William Winters plays Clark, a Harvard student who Will intellectually bests.
    — Jacqueline Weiss, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026
  • His hitting metrics are all career bests, and he’s headed for his fourth consecutive season of 20-plus homers.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 24 July 2026
Definition of best
Noun
  • Parker will play Mary Washington, George’s strong willed mother, while Rodgers will play Sally Cary, the charming beauty of the Virginia gentry who first sees his potential.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Grammer will play Lord Fairfax, the unofficial leader of the Virginia gentry who has a complicated relationship to young George Washington as both his crucial mentor and as the father of his romantic rival.
    — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025
Definition of gentry
Adjective
  • Without better reporting, lawmakers and analysts will have to act with incomplete knowledge, essentially guessing effective tax rates based on limited and sometimes misleading reporting.
    — Howard Gleckman, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • By better understanding how the AAC organizes vocal output in budgerigars, researchers hope to gain new insights into human speech disorders, such as aphasia and Parkinson’s disease, which can impair a person’s ability to produce language.
    — Ella Jeffries, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of better
Noun
  • The details are everything on this popover top, from the split hem to the low V-neckline.
    — Cheryl Wagemann, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Bo Bichette drove in Francisco Lindor, the automatic runner, with a single off right-hander Matt Festa in the top of the 10th.
    — Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of top

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elisions
elite
elites
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Cite this Entry

“Elite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elite. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on elite

Nglish: Translation of elite for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about elite

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