as in exclusive
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nobility
the highest class in a society
the country's elite owned or controlled most of the wealth
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elite
Sarah Hepola, Dallas Morning News, 31 Jan. 2026
But Stafford’s elite performance and a shallow quarterback draft class changes the situation.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
That’s the American analogy, where the traditional governing elite of one of the great parties of much of the country committed itself to something not just in the defense of slavery, but to slavery-plus, fortified and amplified by treason.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elite
Adjective
Liam began fifth grade at Laurel Springs, an online school often used by elite athletes.
—Sarah Hepola, Dallas Morning News, 31 Jan. 2026
But Stafford’s elite performance and a shallow quarterback draft class changes the situation.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
Mamdani’s sudden rise to prominence after his stunning upset victory over Cuomo in the 2025 Democratic mayoral primary, and his self-identification as a democratic socialist, has caused consternation among some of the city’s business elite.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 28 Jan. 2026
That’s the American analogy, where the traditional governing elite of one of the great parties of much of the country committed itself to something not just in the defense of slavery, but to slavery-plus, fortified and amplified by treason.
—David Frum, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elite
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elite
Adjective
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Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
31 Jan. 2026
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Celebrity Cruises' Lane explains that booking shore excursions in advance means getting access to exclusive offers only available prior to sailing.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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To paraphrase a member of the European aristocracy, even Louis Vuitton and Bravo casting directors make mistakes.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
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Rahman is positioning himself as a bridge between a political aristocracy that dates back to Bangladesh’s liberation struggle and the aspirations of its young revolutionaries.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Sophie is wearing the dress of nobility.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
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Other camellia species were noted and grown for their flowers gracing gardens of temples and nobility.—
Dawn Pettinelli,
Hartford Courant,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Dalia Rawson, now the executive director of New Ballet in San Jose, spent decades training and refining her craft as a ballet dancer, and says that after rehearsing for weeks on end with the other members of her company, something special happened.—
Luis Melecio-Zambrano,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
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Among them are Dale Holness, a former Broward County commissioner who lost a special primary election in 2021 to Cherfilus-McCormick by five votes.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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There were old ladies’ sequin dresses and their Sunday best.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2026
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Two editors selected it as the overall best.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The nobles and gentry—the billionaires of Tudor England—made fortunes from the reclaimed monastery lands and created a myth of Henry’s military strength and English pride.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Oct. 2025
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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
Adjective
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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
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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
Noun
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On the runway, the ensemble—which consisted of a cream-colored ruffled halter top and silk ball skirt—was shown with fabric connecting the top and the skirt, but Jenner opted to bare her stomach in between, making the skirt ultra low-rise.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
30 Jan. 2026
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The cap-sleeve top feels polished enough for sightseeing, while the relaxed bottoms keep things comfortable.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elite. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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