as in aristocratic
of high birth, rank, or station
upper-class boys who had an entrenched sense of entitlement
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in aristocracy
the highest class in a society
a school founded to educate the children of the upper class
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upper-class
Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
The plot follows an upper-class widow, Cary Scott (Jane Wyman), who falls for a much younger, down-to-earth, handsome gardener-landscaper, Ron Kirby (Rock Hudson).
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Originally introduced in Europe from Central Asia in the 19th century, cashmere was reserved for royals and the upper class.
—InStyle, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upper-class
Adjective
The show reveals the dramatics of the posh upper-class (back then, football was a sport for the wealthy) and follows how a working-class team makes its way to the Football Association finals, only to come up against an aristocratic club that has long held the champion title.
—Stephanie Bai, The Atlantic, 8 Feb. 2026
The plot follows an upper-class widow, Cary Scott (Jane Wyman), who falls for a much younger, down-to-earth, handsome gardener-landscaper, Ron Kirby (Rock Hudson).
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
O’Hara plays Moira Rose, a former soap opera star who is forced to move from the upper class to a motel in a small town.
—Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 31 Jan. 2026
Originally introduced in Europe from Central Asia in the 19th century, cashmere was reserved for royals and the upper class.
—InStyle, 20 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upper-class
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upper-class
Adjective
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Under the law, the remaining earls, viscounts and dukes who inherited their seats in the chamber along with their aristocratic titles will leave Parliament for good when the current session concludes this spring.—
Peter Weber,
TheWeek,
12 Mar. 2026
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On Tuesday night, members of the upper chamber dropped objections to legislation passed by the House of Commons ousting dozens of dukes, earls and viscounts who inherited seats in Parliament along with their aristocratic titles.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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On the show, Ha, a maid, meets Bridgerton, whose family is of high-ranking aristocracy, at a masquerade ball, where her identity is concealed by a mask.—
Angeline Jane Bernabe,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
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According to Deirdre Clemente, a fashion and culture historian, the emergence of the suit as the standard for men in the 18th and 19th centuries was itself a rebellion against the ornate, flashy and colorful clothing associated with aristocracy.—
Rustin Dodd,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The design once enjoyed by Javanese nobility references the sacred Javanese architectural vernacular style of saka guru, which represents the cardinal directions and has spiritual significance too.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
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In the context of the song, though, the ability to withstand suffering takes on a kind of nobility—not as a good in itself but as a sign of perseverance.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Besides, he’s already got a first name that sounds like a last name, signifying the American upper crust.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
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But Denver was not returning to the NFL’s upper crust as a family business.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The nobles and gentry—the billionaires of Tudor England—made fortunes from the reclaimed monastery lands and created a myth of Henry’s military strength and English pride.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Oct. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Upper-class.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upper-class. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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