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
Relevance
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
-
Soon, mystery-solving events were de rigueur at many rural hotels, whose owners found that staging crime scenes was a surefire way to lure cosmopolitans to the country during the off-season.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Cocktails that would otherwise cost $18 each - such as Margaritas, cosmopolitans, Manhattans, and Old-Fashioneds - are included in this package.—
Debbi Kickham,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Emma Basch, PsyD, a clinical psychologist, agrees, expressing concern that tying self-care to allowance dilutes the concept and does not help kids internalize that caring for themselves is not a job they will ever be paid for, but a way of showing themselves respect and care.—
Hannah Nwoko,
Parents,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The judge said one district dilutes the votes of Blacks and Latinos.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But Daylight Saving Time complicates that.—
Juwayriah Wright,
Time,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Abbington plays Eve, a sharp-witted, slightly off-kilter actress whose obsession with the case pulls her into the investigative orbit and complicates the group dynamic.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And the carne asada fries loads shredded cheese and carne asada onto a bed of french fries, topped with two salsas, sour cream, cilantro and onions.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Attackers can hide instructions inside that address and make Copilot execute them as soon as the page loads.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 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
-
An entire film of buzzy, chaotic music suddenly cuts away so that these sounds can ring out clearly across the cosmos.—
Alex Galbraith,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Off-site construction reliably cuts construction timelines by 10% to 30%, according to an analysis by the Terner Center.—
Ben Christopher,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Maia and her boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hustcherson) are on the outs after Maia completely embarrasses herself at Dylan’s game night with his co-workers.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Dec. 2025
-
There, the father of the bride gets too drunk and embarrasses himself.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Sensing Scarlet’s resolve to destroy him, Claudius poisons her.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sophisticates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sophisticates. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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