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
In more recent years, far-right conspiracy propagators have alleged that global political and business elites worship Moloch in secret and enact policies to appease the sadistic deity.
—
Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
Interestingly, Mother has visibly grown more human over her decades of consuming brain fluid, while the elites who drink her blood have grown more monstrous.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Digg was established in 2004 and was the first to introduce a proper voting system, motivated by an explicit claim to reclaim the editorial selection process from professional elites.
—Steve Paulussen, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
Another is how Russian and Chinese political elites, and some in the United States, have aligned themselves with authoritarian agendas that many privately recognize could lead to disaster.
—Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
The security elites currently leading the country appear to have prevailed over the ultra-hard-liners, who coalesced around the conservative politician Saeed Jalili to oppose diplomacy with the United States.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
Many Shia elites, including paramilitary leaders, showed no desire to abandon their second lives of comfort and state largesse, even as Iran was being bombed during the 12-Day War in June 2025.
—Nabil Salih, Time, 26 May 2026
As biohacking gains momentum among elites, the Enhanced Games aim to normalize longevity drugs through a Vegas sports spectacle.
—Elizabeth Dwoskin, Washington Post, 24 May 2026
At the very least, the pro-Trump tech elites have done a terrible job selling the idea that AI, and technological progress more generally, will be a blessing for us all.
—Jonathan Weber, Fortune, 19 May 2026
Joseph Konig, PEOPLE, 30 May 2026
Interestingly, Mother has visibly grown more human over her decades of consuming brain fluid, while the elites who drink her blood have grown more monstrous.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Digg was established in 2004 and was the first to introduce a proper voting system, motivated by an explicit claim to reclaim the editorial selection process from professional elites.
—Steve Paulussen, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
Another is how Russian and Chinese political elites, and some in the United States, have aligned themselves with authoritarian agendas that many privately recognize could lead to disaster.
—Literary Hub, 27 May 2026
The security elites currently leading the country appear to have prevailed over the ultra-hard-liners, who coalesced around the conservative politician Saeed Jalili to oppose diplomacy with the United States.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
Many Shia elites, including paramilitary leaders, showed no desire to abandon their second lives of comfort and state largesse, even as Iran was being bombed during the 12-Day War in June 2025.
—Nabil Salih, Time, 26 May 2026
As biohacking gains momentum among elites, the Enhanced Games aim to normalize longevity drugs through a Vegas sports spectacle.
—Elizabeth Dwoskin, Washington Post, 24 May 2026
At the very least, the pro-Trump tech elites have done a terrible job selling the idea that AI, and technological progress more generally, will be a blessing for us all.
—Jonathan Weber, Fortune, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elites
Noun
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In all, Enhanced said there were 14 personal bests set by 12 athletes, all of them swimmers and weightlifters.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
25 May 2026
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Despite the sporadic flips between putting on offensive clinics and going silent, Nazar posted career bests of 15 goals, 26 assists and 41 points in 66 games.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
The defining risk facing advanced societies in the coming decades is not collapse from external pressure.—
Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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Her uncle, Lee Kuan Yew, was Singapore’s first prime minister, credited with setting down an approach to economic development that helped make the city-state one of Asia’s richest and most developed societies.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
In this perilous post-republic period of political persecution and violence, the chances are simply too high that the next elect this year will soon become governor.—
Joe Mathews,
Mercury News,
2 June 2026
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Inter took the Serie A title last night, having been champions-elect for weeks.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elites. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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