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
Despite the contradiction, this strategy worked because elites are universally perceived as out of touch with the real world – with privileged and sheltered life experience that begets a sense of superiority.
—
Alexa Beck, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
The files are more proof that elites of all persuasions seem plenty comfortable saying the quiet part out loud or engaging in egregious, shameless behavior, banking on a culture that has given up on demanding consequences.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Some experts note the reckoning in Europe’s parliamentary democracies has been swifter and more severe — for now — than in the United States, where Epstein built his empire and hobnobbed with many American elites.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
It was made possible by a strategic partnership with local elites, especially the armed forces, who already held considerable political influence in the Andean countries.
—Evandro Cruz Silva, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
Much of it is guilt by association — on the grounds, if nothing else, that elites should have known better than to associate with such a man.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Presidents, billionaires, royalty, intelligence officials and cultural elites appear in records tied to Epstein’s world.
—Kaitlyn Buss, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
There, the political and commercial elites don’t shy away from murder to defend potentially corrupt schemes.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
Can the second-year quarterback deliver and firmly establish himself as one of the elites in the biggest game of his career?
—Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Alexa Beck, Fortune, 15 Feb. 2026
The files are more proof that elites of all persuasions seem plenty comfortable saying the quiet part out loud or engaging in egregious, shameless behavior, banking on a culture that has given up on demanding consequences.
—Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 14 Feb. 2026
Some experts note the reckoning in Europe’s parliamentary democracies has been swifter and more severe — for now — than in the United States, where Epstein built his empire and hobnobbed with many American elites.
—Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
It was made possible by a strategic partnership with local elites, especially the armed forces, who already held considerable political influence in the Andean countries.
—Evandro Cruz Silva, The Dial, 10 Feb. 2026
Much of it is guilt by association — on the grounds, if nothing else, that elites should have known better than to associate with such a man.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Presidents, billionaires, royalty, intelligence officials and cultural elites appear in records tied to Epstein’s world.
—Kaitlyn Buss, Boston Herald, 8 Feb. 2026
There, the political and commercial elites don’t shy away from murder to defend potentially corrupt schemes.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 6 Feb. 2026
Can the second-year quarterback deliver and firmly establish himself as one of the elites in the biggest game of his career?
—Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elites
Noun
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And if your fourth line is Horvat between Brad Marchand and Sam Reinhart, with Bennett — the Conn Smythe Trophy winner last spring — as the 13th forward sprinkled in with some shifts, well, that’s a new definition of depth at best-on-best.—
Pierre LeBrun,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
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The two most notable team stats were points in the paint, where the Aztecs scored 52 points; and turnovers, where the visitors committed six while forcing 22, both season bests.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Newman’s work has been welcomed by reformers and those who have been arguing, for years, in favor of British reparations to societies that have borne the legacy of its slaving activities.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
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But the key is that wise societies weigh costs against benefits.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And, unlike high-yield savings accounts, those rates are fixed and will remain the same until the account matures or until the saver elects to open the account prematurely.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
3 Feb. 2026
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In the meantime, the longtime advocate for lower interest rates is expected to dissent on Wednesday when the Fed likely elects to hold monetary policy steady.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elites. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
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