Definition of parvenunext
as in arriviste
one who has recently acquired wealth and social position the kind of trophy house that a parvenu buys to prove to people, and to himself, that he has indeed arrived

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of parvenu Spurrier, who predominantly sold French vintages, wasn’t expecting anything other than a trouncing for the parvenu. Charlie Campbell, Time, 25 May 2026 Raveendran, at least on paper, assumes his place among those parvenus thanks to his effort in internet education. Saritha Rai, Fortune, 29 July 2019 Well, rejecting the pretensions of the peacocking parvenu is one of the sweetest pleasures left to the fallen aristocrat. Lili Anolik, Vanities, 19 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parvenu
Noun
  • And yet, the digital arrivistes could only gain so much traction with a broader customer base and needed a boost from tie-ins with old-school counterparts.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
  • Certainly there’s a long and distinguished tradition of associating Jewish arrivistes with entrepreneurialism, avarice, and clannishness.
    Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The competitive landscape was, by every reasonable read, hostile to a small upstart trying to enter the customer relationship management space.
    Jason Sisneros, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
  • Psych-folk upstart Dagmar Zuniga is taking her 2025 debut album for a road trip this fall, with a tour across America and Europe, and support from Japanese composer Yasuaki Shimizu.
    Alex Suskind, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026
Noun
  • And all of this comes on the heels of the glitzy opening of the Six Senses Crans-Montana ski-in, ski-out resort, and the nouveau riche crowd that comes with it.
    Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 4 May 2026
  • Vandelli thinks Stilley is nouveau riche; Stilley thinks Vandelli is a bully.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • Whether a whiskey connoisseur, aviation aficionado, outdoor adventurer, or eclectic foodie, the small town of Tullahoma, Tennessee, has much to offer you.
    Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
  • Just like a certain adventurer with some mean, mean pride, Rush are currently embarking on their fiftieth anniversary tour, a prog-rock pilgrimage that will take them around the world and back for the next year.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 17 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Parvenu.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parvenu. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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