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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sophisticates
Noun
-
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
-
Opponents argue that the new map dilutes the voting power of Black residents in eastern North Carolina.—
Adam Wagner,
NPR,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Yes, growth is tempting — launching podcasts, videos, new products — but every expansion dilutes focus.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Scheduled for retirement in 2026, the ship’s age complicates the analysis of events.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
-
That complicates things for the Blue Jays who could either be riding off into the sunset happy as can be or mad at the world for losing Game 6 and Game 7.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
AIAssistWorks loads into common apps like Google Sheets, Docs, and Slides.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Alexandra Shapiro and Brian Steel are in the cafeteria having a chat as the latter loads up on valuable potassium via a morning banana.—
NBC News,
NBC news,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The camera then cuts to Trump placing gold urns everywhere.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Nov. 2025
-
At the end of the game, Alma climbs onto the evac chopper before everything cuts to black.—
Will Borger,
Rolling Stone,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Unfortunately for the squeamish 12-year-old me, the lifelike fluidity intensifies the story’s body-horror elements.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The danger intensifies when storm surge coincides with high tide, rapidly elevating water levels and increasing the risk of widespread flooding.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
His eerie behavior soon infects the quiet rhythms of their rural town, sparking paranoia, violence, and death.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Listeria infects about 1,250 people in the United States each year, according to the CDC, and kills about 172.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
From towering lemon pies to delicate cookie thins, this collaboration captures Martha Stewart’s timeless elegance, giving dessert lovers a chance to celebrate the season with style and a little extra sweetness.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Ice plains can prompt fast retreat because as the glacier thins, the ice starts to rise up and water pushes underneath into its crevasses, exerting pressure and causing large slabs to break off — in a process called calving.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 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
“Sophisticates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sophisticates. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share