UPPER CRUST Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

upper-crust 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of upper-crust

as in aristocratic

of high birth, rank, or station an interior designer who has intimate knowledge of the tastes of her upper-crust clientele

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

upper crust

2 of 2

noun

as in aristocracy

individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class the conference was a gathering of the upper crust of the computer programming industry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in nobility

the highest class in a society a specialty clothing store for the upper crust

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 upper-crust

Adjective

Emulation of upper-crust speech norms became popular among the nouveau riche. — Valerie M. Fridland, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026 The show follows two upper-crust friends, Julia (O’Hara) and Jane (Byrne), who discover their former lover Maurice (Mark Consuelos) has touched down in London while their husbands are on a golf trip. — Brent Lang, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026

Noun

Link, whose real name is Dylan, helped to create Alex prior to the mass extinction event that sent the world's upper crust into Paradise. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Mar. 2026 One measurement among many that marks the Broncos’ ascent back to the NFL’s upper crust in recent years is the seemingly annual attempts to pillage Sean Payton’s coaching staff. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upper-crust

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upper-crust

Adjective

Beatrice’s children do have aristocratic titles, even though Eugenie’s don’t.

— Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 20 Sep. 2026
His family has not endured near the top of the British aristocratic food chain by being critical of the royal household, but Diana's story has changed that.

— Mark Phillips, CBS News, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of aristocratic

Noun

The ‘Baronessa’ was Venetian aristocracy and lived in a vast rococo palace with Guardis and Canalettos in the drawing room.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Sep. 2026
Born in 1901, Cartland was a fixture of British high society, rubbing shoulders with press barons, politicians, the aristocracy and the Royal Family, as step-grandmother to Princess Diana.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of aristocracy

Noun

There’s a nobility in providing some fan service to help immerse Oasis devotees who could not afford the outrageous ticket prices to attend the tour.

— Marshall Shaffer, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026
Working as a portraitist, she was commissioned by university scholars and local nobility in Bologna, the Italian city where she was born.

— Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of nobility

Noun

But for the second straight week, Kelce had game-bests in receptions and receiving yards as the Chiefs beat the Colts 33-30 in overtime Sunday night at Arrowhead Stadium.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026
Benton had career bests in tackles (51), tackles for loss (6) and sacks (5 1/2) while helping the Steelers to the AFC North title.

— CBS News, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of best

Noun

More than 80 years ago a novel sent shockwaves through Fort Worth for its portrayal of the city’s elites.

— Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026
The death of Choi, who rubbed shoulders with Hong Kong’s showbiz and business elites, sent shockwaves through the wealthy financial hub, where homicides are rare, and made global headlines.

— Chris Lau, CNN Money, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of elite

Noun

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
Grammer will play Lord Fairfax, the unofficial leader of the Virginia gentry who has a complicated relationship to young George Washington as both his crucial mentor and as the father of his romantic rival.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025

Definition of gentry

Noun

The first meeting was in November of last year at the White House, when Mamdani was mayor elect, and the second was in February, also at the White House.

— Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
The governor-elect faced a fight over removing Nick Balletto, who had initially been dismissive of Lamont as a candidate, as the Democratic state chair.

— Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of elect

Browse Nearby Words

upperclassmen

upper-crust

upper crust

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Upper-crust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upper-crust. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of upper-crust

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

argot

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes