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
Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Celebrating the event’s ability to bring the community together around sport, the Peachtree’s 10K distance also ensures inclusivity — from elite runners to those competing in their first‑ever race, and even participants who are 100‑plus.
—Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
So Xi was entering the ruling elite in a period when China wanted to be friends with America and saw Russia as its enemy.
—Michael Sheridan, Vanity Fair, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for elite
Adjective
Colabrese joins the Mets with an extensive background in elite sports and media leadership, most recently serving as CFO of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators.
—Sportico Staff, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Celebrating the event’s ability to bring the community together around sport, the Peachtree’s 10K distance also ensures inclusivity — from elite runners to those competing in their first‑ever race, and even participants who are 100‑plus.
—Nicole Bennett, AJC.com, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
The theory of the great replacement is that elites, or, depending on who told the story, Jews (not commonly a direct target of VDARE), have invited nonwhite immigrants with inferior bloodlines into white- dominated Western countries to weaken them and absorb more power for themselves.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
So Xi was entering the ruling elite in a period when China wanted to be friends with America and saw Russia as its enemy.
—Michael Sheridan, Vanity Fair, 8 Apr. 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.—
Matt Lavietes,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
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Even as the broader market cools, in the country’s most exclusive destinations, high prices aren’t the exception—they’re the expectation.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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For example, they might be classified by the number of rulers, thus distinguishing government by one (as in a monarchy or a tyranny) from government by the few (in an aristocracy or oligarchy) and from government by the many (as in a democracy).—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Marquess of Hartington and a member of the British aristocracy.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Lagerbielke — or more accurately, the 11th Baron Lagerbielke — is a member of the Swedish nobility and lies 254th in line to the country’s throne.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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Known as the Dragon Slayer, he’s often shown meditating, praying, waxing philosophical, and pontificating on nobility, integrity and honor.—
Pamela Chelin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Featuring one-of-a-kind prints and stand out colors, each piece feels special -- like it was made just for you.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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Primary dealers, a special designation set by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, are required to participate in Treasury auctions and submit bids.—
Colin Dodds,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But, a couple of injuries for Blackwood, combined with his own work, has allowed Wedgewood to start 40 games and appear in 42 this season -- easily career-bests at the NHL level.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
5 Apr. 2026
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Rice this season produced career bests in points, field-goal accuracy, rebounds and steals.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
5 Apr. 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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With 13 customizable controls, 11-zone Chroma under-glow, and Gen-3 Optical Switches that are rated for 90 million clicks, this mouse will survive your climb to the top of the leaderboard.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
10 Apr. 2026
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Lovejoy scored its final run on a Carson Branch homer to left field in the top of the sixth.—
Myah Taylor,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elite. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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