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
1
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
2
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
Don Riddell, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
And Elizabeth Perkins has a nicely chilly role as Andrew’s upper-crust mom, Evelyn.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025
Judy Berman, Time, 20 June 2025
Well, that was the decade when the city’s upper crust finally started to buy it.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upper-crust
Adjective
Rising ticket prices in the Premier League era had been squeezing out traditional fans and their seats had been taken by an upper-crust, fair-weather fanbase.
—Don Riddell, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025
And Elizabeth Perkins has a nicely chilly role as Andrew’s upper-crust mom, Evelyn.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 16 Dec. 2025
Noun
Through his characters, Fellowes communicates his approval for a more compassionate and inclusive upper crust.
—Judy Berman, Time, 20 June 2025
Well, that was the decade when the city’s upper crust finally started to buy it.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upper-crust
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upper-crust
Adjective
-
While retaining an old-school, aristocratic vibe, Adare's fanciful gargoyles, genuinely warm staff, grand and intimate spaces, and super-comfortable rooms make it somewhere uniquely and unabashedly the Ireland of now.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
-
His aristocratic taste inherited ideas of beauty and old European style, rather than innovating with new trends.—
Jye Marshall,
Fortune,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This time, Industry unfolds as a sharp, uncomfortable on-the-nose commentary of modern politics, media, technocrats and the seemingly-immovable aristocracy of British society.—
Chloe Laws,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Jan. 2026
-
To paraphrase a member of the European aristocracy, even Louis Vuitton and Bravo casting directors make mistakes.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Sophie is wearing the dress of nobility.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Other camellia species were noted and grown for their flowers gracing gardens of temples and nobility.—
Dawn Pettinelli,
Hartford Courant,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There were old ladies’ sequin dresses and their Sunday best.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Two editors selected it as the overall best.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
17 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Not only that, but the population was booming, the extreme opulence of the upper class contrasted sharply against the harrowing poverty found in the slums, the Romantic movement was flourishing, and the middle class was emerging.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Countries that qualify as banana republics, typically Latin American ones, tend to have an economy dependent on a single commodity, a large and exploited working class, and a tiny upper class with a stake in that commodity, which gets to enjoy the fruits of the poor’s labor.—
Marc Novicoff,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
But then, economic and social challenges shook Portugal and its political elite.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Turkey's experience demonstrated how concentrated economic relationships between business elites and political leadership complicate assessments of institutional independence—even when the underlying commercial logic proves sound.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
In the meantime, the longtime advocate for lower interest rates is expected to dissent on Wednesday when the Fed likely elects to hold monetary policy steady.—
Eleanor Mueller,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Under the bill, the Department of Correction will provide training to all sheriffs-elect on how to cooperate with the United States immigration and Customs Enforcement.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Upper-crust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upper-crust. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
