1
as in cliques
a small group of people who exercise control over a country, business, etc.
Critics complain that the government is now dominated by an oligarchy of wealthy businesspeople.
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2
as in empires
government that is controlled by a small group of people
The nation was an oligarchy with election results manipulated to maintain a permanent ruling class.
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oligarchies
Noun
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Corbett also thinks that deputy cliques existed at one point.—
Teagan Davidge,
Daily News,
14 May 2026 -
In this milieu, Hollywood A-listers like Will Ferrell and Sharon Stone, who occupy separate cliques nearby, pale in comparison to the mingling artistic luminaries.—
Jessica Gelt,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The rest of the world comprised colonial possessions of the European states and Japan, a few large land empires, and many small principalities.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
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Born in the Bronx in 1939, Lauren famously started by selling neckties out of a drawer in the Empire State Building before building one of the world’s most recognizable lifestyle empires.—
Brittany Talarico,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Noun
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After a series of coups by officers dissatisfied with lagging counterterrorism efforts, juntas in the three countries booted France altogether, establishing close ties with Russia instead.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
10 May 2026
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Following coups in all three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance instead.—
Molly Quell,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Prince Philip joined Meet The Press back in 1969 at a time when monarchies across Europe were in decline following World War II.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
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Gerontocracy has always thrived in undemocratic places—Communist people’s republics, Gulf monarchies—where only death could pry power from the ruling elders.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Oligarchies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oligarchies. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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