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
Relevance
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
as in exclusive
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025
Del Mar goalie Oren Penning and five of the team’s elite shooters secured the wins with unparalleled skill.
—Katherine Anderson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 1 Aug. 2025
In different ways both Katie and Summer have separated themselves from all other elite, world-class swimmers based upon performance.
—Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for elite
Noun
Founders Park is a scenic, year-round waterfront gathering space, complete with a dog park, beach, marina, amphitheater, and Olympic-sized pool where elite swimmers train.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2025
Del Mar goalie Oren Penning and five of the team’s elite shooters secured the wins with unparalleled skill.
—Katherine Anderson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
For generations, the Chicago Collective’s men’s show has brought together the industry’s elite with must-see exhibitors of the finest brands and more than a few legendary parties.
—Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 1 Aug. 2025
In different ways both Katie and Summer have separated themselves from all other elite, world-class swimmers based upon performance.
—Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for elite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elite
Noun
-
In his letters, Chekhov could sound like Ivan, lambasting the blinkered privilege of Russia’s aristocracy and the state of poverty in which most of the people were mired in.—
Philip Metres
July 30,
Literary Hub,
30 July 2025
-
Wealthy Americans, meanwhile, some flush with robber-baron fortunes, flocked to the house to acquire the sheen of aristocracy by association.—
Leslie Camhi,
New Yorker,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
Another constitutional clause that was removed from the Library of Congress' website included a line that bars Congress from offering Americans titles of nobility — a limitation that sought to safeguard the United States government from being influenced by European monarchies.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Robert is a marquis, inheritor of an ancient title of nobility, who nonetheless has German Jewish ancestry, something that attracts the attention of other characters.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
The family was welcomed by staff and presented with an exclusive prize package including a complimentary membership to the Science Center, officials said.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that's too important to ignore.—
Louryn Strampe,
Wired News,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Napheesa Collier finished with 25 points and nine rebounds, Courtney Williams added 23 points and five assists, and the Lynx had season bests in points, rebounds and free throws in dominating Las Vegas 109-78.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
26 July 2025
-
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise quarterback is coming off the best year of his career, which began with a life-changing contract, continued with the birth of his first daughter and wrapped with personal bests of a 10-7 record, 4,500 passing yards and 41 touchdowns.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
Public Health and Race in Los Angeles, 1879-1939, Natalia Molina systematically breaks down how, more than a century ago, the Chinese, Japanese, and Mexican communities of Los Angeles were portrayed as health threats to the white gentry.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 June 2025
-
This differed from Europe, where land ownership was immobilized by gentry classes who housed and employed farmers.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
15 June 2025
Adjective
-
Having used the lap swim himself, Holland recounted watching an older couple arrive, the wife in a wheelchair and in obvious pain, being lowered into the water using special equipment.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
-
Governors of both states would need to call special legislative sessions to have the legislature redraw the maps.—
Erin Mansfield,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Tennessee ranks toward the top of the list for approval ratings at 60%, along with West Virginia at 59%.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Our top picks for children's life insurance include Aflac, one of the few companies with term life policies for children, and Foresters Financial, which has a Bright Future Children's policy that pays out up to $75,000.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
And that same place gives the Eagles, 49ers and Cowboys better odds of winning the Super Bowl than the Lions at plus-2,000.—
Kirkland Crawford,
Detroit Free Press,
20 July 2023
Cite this Entry
“Elite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elite. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share