1
as in clique
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 empire
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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Recent Examples of oligarchy
In Du Bois’s telling, this was a national bargain; together, northern capital and southern oligarchy aligned to sacrifice Black citizenship for economic consolidation.
—
Zephyr Teachout, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Osborn, a union man unafraid of confronting oligarchy, will once again campaign as an independent in next year’s senatorial race in Nebraska, hoping to unseat the billionaire incumbent, Pete Ricketts.
—Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The American people do not want oligarchy, authoritarianism or attacks on Social Security, Medicaid or the VA.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
In recent years, aided by his son, Sam (CEO of Dropout), the 79-year-old has developed an impressive social media following, warning of the perils of an unfettered oligarchy and rampant inequality.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oligarchy
Zephyr Teachout, The Atlantic, 22 Sep. 2025
Osborn, a union man unafraid of confronting oligarchy, will once again campaign as an independent in next year’s senatorial race in Nebraska, hoping to unseat the billionaire incumbent, Pete Ricketts.
—Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The American people do not want oligarchy, authoritarianism or attacks on Social Security, Medicaid or the VA.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
In recent years, aided by his son, Sam (CEO of Dropout), the 79-year-old has developed an impressive social media following, warning of the perils of an unfettered oligarchy and rampant inequality.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for oligarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oligarchy
Noun
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What began as a search for community and understanding turned into an experience that felt akin to the cliques and social hierarchies of high school.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Maryland federal prosecutors have indicted six MS-13 members in recent months, including the alleged leader of the Centrales Locos Salvatrucha (CLS) clique of the gang in the Baltimore area.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The powerful Murdoch media empire has been the source of criticism from Democrats for years, particularly in New York City, where the New York Post has relentlessly criticized, mocked, and uncovered negative stories about its Democratic mayors and politicians.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
2 Feb. 2026
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Think pastels, dainty embroidery, empire silhouettes, delicate lace, intricate brocade, puff sleeves and, yes, plenty of bling.—
Kelsie Gibson,
PEOPLE,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Low turnout Voter turnout during the first phase of the election was 52% and during the second phase 56%, according to the junta.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
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One example of the former was Argentina after the Peróns, which was led by a junta.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If all goes to hell and America devolves into a rank dictatorship, beware the bootlicker.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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Edner migrated from Haiti in the late 1960s to escape the Duvalier dictatorship and build a better life for his four daughters and three sons.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oligarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oligarchy. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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