as in cosmopolitans
a person with the outlook, experience, and manners thought to be typical of big city dwellers
sophisticates laughing at people they thought of as hicks
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in complexes
to make complex or difficult
there's no need to sophisticate something that is beautiful in its simplicity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dilutes
to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances
vanilla extract that has been sophisticated with corn syrup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sophisticates
Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2026
Despite parents’ efforts, allowances aren’t necessarily minting a new generation of financial sophisticates.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2025
Noun
Heartland churchgoers, urban sophisticates, football neophytes—everyone got swept up in his will to win.
—Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 8 Feb. 2026
Despite parents’ efforts, allowances aren’t necessarily minting a new generation of financial sophisticates.
—Michael Waters, The Atlantic, 10 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sophisticates
Noun
-
Seedlip is ideal for non-alcoholic spritzes, palomas, cosmopolitans and similar classics.—
Lauren Schuster,
Miami Herald,
27 May 2026
-
There's a matinee for students and daytime explorers and a Saturday night outing for date-night cosmopolitans.—
Duante Beddingfield,
Freep.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And yet the federalist structure of our government — largely giving states the power to determine their own fates — complicates that idea.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
-
There's also a real risk of losing income or savings if a judgment is issued against you, which further complicates the issue.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Verb
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As such, Friedkin’s film has taken on a social-history aspect that dilutes its toxicity.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
6 June 2026
-
Cynical congressional map dilutes Black voting power to target a kingmaker.—
Kathleen Parker,
Washington Post,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
But the unknown in that equation is what perplexes the Mavericks and has the team stuck for now.—
Tim Cowlishaw,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This is the information that loads the dice for our simulations.—
Achim Zeileis,
The Conversation,
9 June 2026
-
The borrowing is heavily long-dated, reflecting the multi-decade life the companies assign to their data centers, which loads more interest-rate sensitivity onto buyers at a time when the direction of rates is unsettled.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
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Graft inquiry embarrasses Zelensky Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said in a Telegram announcement that the investigation into Yermak is ongoing.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Now the technology embarrasses an umpire even more than a player could, and what’s the recourse?—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Patrick Stewart, leader of the city’s library foundation, said Friday that cuts to libraries dramatically affect neighborhoods partly because libraries host so many cultural events.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
-
Full-back Max Arfsten drifts into the space that Pulisic has just vacated, while Tim Ream cuts inside and finds him with a direct pass, providing the platform for a quick attack.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
5 June 2026
Verb
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The company has also deepened ties with major technology players including Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, even as competition intensifies across the AI industry.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 June 2026
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The process tenderizes the ingredient and intensifies its natural flavor.—
Maddy Sweitzer-Lamme,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
5 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sophisticates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sophisticates. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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