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
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Recent Examples of elites
German elites, particularly the aristocrats who dominated the country’s military, industry, and bureaucracy, loathed the Weimar Republic.
—
Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Their society was hierarchical, with those below the caciques known as the nitaínos (elites), behiques (perhaps shamans), and the naborías (usually servants and commoners).
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Over time, the congress fostered a transnational network of culturally influential elites who favored liberal democracy over communism and Marxism.
—Tetiana Kotelnykova, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
What about true super-elites like Kilian Jornet and triathlon star Kristian Blummenfelt?
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 20 Oct. 2025
Gathering Communist Party elites will review China’s upcoming five-year plan, an economic blueprint whose direction is strictly dictated by top leadership in the authoritarian state.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025
Swiping Safes, Dodging Ambushes Back in Damascus, some 3,000 members of the General Intelligence services were still inside the sprawling security compound in the capital’s southwest, unaware that regime elites had already fled.
—Danny Makki, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Because of this, ice bunkers were generally only utilized by social elites such as the royals, who possessed the necessary technological know-how and labor force.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Oct. 2025
Determining whether a coup accompanies anti-government protests depends on how elites and the military behave, not on how violent protesters may be.
—John Joseph Chin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Time, 23 Oct. 2025
Their society was hierarchical, with those below the caciques known as the nitaínos (elites), behiques (perhaps shamans), and the naborías (usually servants and commoners).
—Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025
Over time, the congress fostered a transnational network of culturally influential elites who favored liberal democracy over communism and Marxism.
—Tetiana Kotelnykova, The Atlantic, 22 Oct. 2025
What about true super-elites like Kilian Jornet and triathlon star Kristian Blummenfelt?
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 20 Oct. 2025
Gathering Communist Party elites will review China’s upcoming five-year plan, an economic blueprint whose direction is strictly dictated by top leadership in the authoritarian state.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2025
Swiping Safes, Dodging Ambushes Back in Damascus, some 3,000 members of the General Intelligence services were still inside the sprawling security compound in the capital’s southwest, unaware that regime elites had already fled.
—Danny Makki, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Because of this, ice bunkers were generally only utilized by social elites such as the royals, who possessed the necessary technological know-how and labor force.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 16 Oct. 2025
Determining whether a coup accompanies anti-government protests depends on how elites and the military behave, not on how violent protesters may be.
—John Joseph Chin, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elites
Noun
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Long stretches of The Paseo, Broadway Boulevard and Ward Parkway will close as racers aim to set personal bests, so plan accordingly.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
15 Oct. 2025
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This was baseball at its October best.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
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It’s rooted in a belief system that distrusts institutions — government health agencies, vaccine makers, medical societies and others — on the premise that those institutions seek only money and control.—
Audrey Dutton,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
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Taíno societies were matrilineal in their descent, meaning that women could be chiefs and that power was transferred from the chief’s mother’s relatives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The State of Arizona sued the House of Representatives on Tuesday over Speaker Mike Johnson's decision to not swear in Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva until after the government shutdown ends.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
21 Oct. 2025
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Melania offers unprecedented access to the 20 days leading up to the 2025 Presidential Inauguration through the eyes of the First Lady-elect herself.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elites. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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