Synonyms of upstart

upstart

noun

ˈəp-ˌstärt 

as in arriviste

one who has recently acquired wealth and social position

having made their money in oil decades ago, they consider these billionaire dot-commers mere upstarts

Synonyms & Similar Words

• arriviste
• parvenu
• adventurer
• nouveau riche
• comer
• snob
• moneybags
• nabob
• social climber
• arrivé
• fat cat

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of upstart

Many of these upstarts have historically been quick to parlay a buzzy name and big bankroll into an initial slate of projects, generally centered around its athlete founder. — Justin Birnbaum, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

Good Good was preparing to lend its name to a PGA Tour tournament this fall, a major coup for a digital upstart that had grown into one of the dominant forces in YouTube golf, with more than 2 million subscribers. — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026

The ecommerce upstart, which quickly outstripped legacy rivals like H&M and Zara in online apparel sales during the pandemic, saw its New York, then London, listing aspirations unravel amid mounting regulatory and political scrutiny. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026

On one side, existing chip competitors and a growing group of upstarts are both vying for a bigger share of the market. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026