as in aristocratic
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior
the complacent, elitist attitude of the members at that suburban country club
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in snob
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elitist
Yolanda Watson Spiva, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Those are more elitist bakeries.
—Vivian Song, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2025
European soccer elitists turn up their noses at the Europa League because of its second-rate status.
—Alex Tabet, NBC news, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for elitist
Adjective
This mismatch between perception and reality has real consequences, fueling the notion that higher education as a whole is elitist and out of touch, hiding the work of the colleges that educate millions of working- and middle-class families.
—Yolanda Watson Spiva, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Those are more elitist bakeries.
—Vivian Song, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Noun
He’s known for brash takes on politics and appears to relish taking down moralists and elitists.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2025
European soccer elitists turn up their noses at the Europa League because of its second-rate status.
—Alex Tabet, NBC news, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for elitist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elitist
Adjective
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Speaking of which, the concept of royalty among members of PFV is no exaggeration, though some of the blue blood flowing through members’ veins is merely aristocratic.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
27 Dec. 2025
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Once owned by Perugia’s noble Raspanti family and later part of the Porta Eburnea district, the estate gradually transformed from a defensive outpost into an aristocratic country residence.—
Laura May Todd,
Vogue,
21 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Since the show’s premiere in March 2024, Burnett’s Norma has been set up as a money- and status-hungry snob, willing to do just about anything to have others do her bidding and maintain her opulent lifestyle amongst the highest of high society.—
Rosemary Rossi,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
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Among coffee snobs—call them MAMICs La Marzocco is deservedly famous for its technical finesse, producing superb shots time and again.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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This version of Ryan was arrogant, unable to conceal pride in his accomplishment.—
Jamie Thompson,
The Atlantic,
6 Nov. 2025
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So long as that situation continues, the 43-year-old’s allegedly arrogant and stand-offish treatment of his players will not worry the club hierarchy too much.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Set in 1969 Palm Beach, the Apple TV series follows Kristen Wiig’s Maxine Dellacorte-Simmons, a spry social climber eager to infiltrate high society.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
7 Jan. 2026
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In classic Brooksian fashion, this simple succession plan becomes complicated by a potential scandal involving her social climber husband (Jack Lowden), the sudden return of her womanizing father (Woody Harrelson), and, well, Ella McCay’s own stubbornly idealistic personality.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
10 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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Prizegivers have also in the past been accused of being snobbish, of having an anti-American bias and of ignoring some of the giants of literature, including Russia's Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, France's Emile Zola and Ireland's James Joyce.—
Simon Johnson,
USA Today,
9 Oct. 2025
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The episode was about a fake Lord trying to check in to a seedy seaside hotel, and the snobbish Cleese character who runs the place gets fooled by him.—
Jonathan Margolis,
Air Mail,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elitist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elitist. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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