as in aristocracies
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
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 elites
There were ups and downs through the race’s first few decades, but always a consistent effort to get elites— women included—to the track.
—
Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
That said, some of Iran’s political elites do oppose talks with the United States.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
Research amply shows that what political elites — politicians, political leaders, media commentators, online influencers — say in the wake of these sorts of events has a huge effect on citizens’ attitudes.
—James Piazza, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
As a result of the business model, a widespread perception among elites and opinion leaders has been that free newspapers are of low journalistic quality.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Apr. 2026
Thousands of media and political elites have now gone through what countless millions of other Americans have experienced in their schools, offices, malls and churches.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
India bristles as Pakistan has its diplomatic moment Indian political elites are discomforted by regional rival Pakistan’s outsized role in US-Iran peace talks, but there are some bright spots for New Delhi, analysts argued.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
In some cases, those corporate leaders are the government, with Carney tapping a series of old colleagues and business elites for key economic posts.
—Christine Dobby, Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
How do elites double their wealth every year while living standards for the rest of the country fall?
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 1 May 2026
That said, some of Iran’s political elites do oppose talks with the United States.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
Research amply shows that what political elites — politicians, political leaders, media commentators, online influencers — say in the wake of these sorts of events has a huge effect on citizens’ attitudes.
—James Piazza, Twin Cities, 30 Apr. 2026
As a result of the business model, a widespread perception among elites and opinion leaders has been that free newspapers are of low journalistic quality.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Apr. 2026
Thousands of media and political elites have now gone through what countless millions of other Americans have experienced in their schools, offices, malls and churches.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 26 Apr. 2026
India bristles as Pakistan has its diplomatic moment Indian political elites are discomforted by regional rival Pakistan’s outsized role in US-Iran peace talks, but there are some bright spots for New Delhi, analysts argued.
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
In some cases, those corporate leaders are the government, with Carney tapping a series of old colleagues and business elites for key economic posts.
—Christine Dobby, Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026
How do elites double their wealth every year while living standards for the rest of the country fall?
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elites
Noun
-
Test your knowledge of baseball bests, restaurant revamps and more in this week's American Culture Quiz.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
-
Then the speakers’ exhortations to excellence would build in emotional intensity until women began to weep and the meeting erupted in spontaneous pledges to set new personal bests.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In European and American societies of the early and mid-19th century, research shows that infant mortality rates were 30-60 times greater than today.—
Laura Ungar,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
-
Physical spaces have always embodied what societies care about — from those first stone monuments that hunter-gatherers built to demonstrate loyalty to each other and to higher powers.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
Inter took the Serie A title last night, having been champions-elect for weeks.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
Obama’s staff would look less amused a few weeks later, as their boss hosted President-elect Trump at the White House.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elites. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
