prestige

Definition of prestigenext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word prestige distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of prestige are authority, credit, influence, and weight. While all these words mean "power exerted over the minds or behavior of others," prestige implies the ascendancy given by conspicuous excellence or reputation for superiority.

the prestige of the newspaper

When would authority be a good substitute for prestige?

While the synonyms authority and prestige are close in meaning, authority implies the power of winning devotion or allegiance or of compelling acceptance and belief.

his opinions lacked authority

When is credit a more appropriate choice than prestige?

In some situations, the words credit and prestige are roughly equivalent. However, credit suggests influence that arises from the confidence of others.

his credit with the press

Where would influence be a reasonable alternative to prestige?

While in some cases nearly identical to prestige, influence may apply to a force exercised and received consciously or unconsciously.

used her influence to get the bill passed

In what contexts can weight take the place of prestige?

Although the words weight and prestige have much in common, weight implies measurable or decisive influence in determining acts or choices.

their wishes obviously carried much weight

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 prestige In 2025, its debut in Ulta Beauty was the most successful prestige haircare launch in the retailer’s history. — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 Fragrance was the fastest-growing prestige beauty category of 2024, with dollar sales up 12%. — Sebastian Dobrincu, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026 In the eastern parts of the empire, Greek was the language of administration, as well as the prestige language for intellectual and literary activity. — Scott Spires, Encyclopedia Britannica, 18 Sep. 2026 Research brings grants, prestige, graduate students, rankings, and career advancement. — Ian Bogost, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prestige
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prestige
Noun
  • But our latest research shows how these tombs – built for Etruscans of higher socioeconomic and political status—were designed to offer sophisticated sensory experiences.
    — Jacqueline Ortoleva, Scientific American, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The uncertain status of TPS has led to sometime conflicting actions by government agencies or employers.
    — Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Carrey rose to fame doing comedy films throughout the 1990s and has continued acting, despite his attempts to retire.
    — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But through a bit of TV fame, and Ramsay’s signature yelling, ranting, exasperation and, in the end, brotherly wisdom, perhaps its restaurant dreams can come true.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • While Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Alaskan cruises will always be popular, one cruise type that’s gaining more notoriety is repositioning cruises.
    — Megan duBois, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Some said Kelce and Swift were using the relationship to gain more notoriety.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 25 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Sporting black turtlenecks a la Steve Jobs, Holmes first gained renown and then infamy as the tech was unmasked as fraudulent by the Wall Street Journal and a subsequent federal investigation.
    — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Baldwin Lee came to photographic renown pretty late in life, mostly for his in-close-and-intense pictures of small-town Black Southerners made in the 1980s and collected in an epic monograph in 2022.
    — Baldwin Lee, Curbed, 10 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Official documents show Hitler – who was gaining prominence but had not yet seized power in Germany – had already left Munich for Nuremberg the previous afternoon, a timeline that would prove that he could not have been involved in her death.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Fisher, who rose to prominence in the 1970s as Princess Leia in the Star Wars films, died in 2016 after a medical incident on an airplane.
    — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Contrary to the traditional labor theory of value, which calculates the value of a good or service through the amount of labor required to produce it, Poliks and Trillo posit latency and delay to be the true sources of value.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • While such gifts can help to reinforce certain values, Pennington says that is not the only reason more people are choosing not to wait until after they’re gone to give away money.
    — Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • What readers are saying The comments on the article discuss the importance and challenges of effective listening, particularly reflective or active listening.
    — Maggie Penman, Washington Post, 2 Oct. 2026
  • The project helped bring attention to regenerative farming and the importance of maintaining a sustainable ecosystem where people and animals can thrive together.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • But compared to galaxies, which can host 100 billion similarly sized star systems, even these cosmic titans are relatively small in stature.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Now, in being seen as someone of a certain stature, that kind of behavior is uncool.
    — Kyle Denis, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Prestige.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prestige. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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