as in aristocracy
the highest class in a society
the patriciate regarded patronage of the arts as a moral and social duty
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for patriciate
Noun
-
Some moved to England in order to receive an education or marry into the aristocracy; others journeyed to India, Macau, or Rome.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026 -
All Creatures Great and Small What Downton Abbey did for British aristocracy, All Creatures Great and Small does for English veterinary practices.—
Tiffany Kelly,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
Its medical professionals aren’t just competent but morally perfect, their personal failings serving mainly to make their essential nobility more tangible.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Intelligence is a little like the concept of nobility, said Alison Gopnik, a psychology professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who has pioneered techniques for studying the cognitive abilities of babies and children.—
F.D. Flam,
Twin Cities,
22 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The nobles and gentry—the billionaires of Tudor England—made fortunes from the reclaimed monastery lands and created a myth of Henry’s military strength and English pride.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Parker will play Mary Washington, George’s strong willed mother, while Rodgers will play Sally Cary, the charming beauty of the Virginia gentry who first sees his potential.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
5 Sep. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Patriciate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/patriciate. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share