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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upstart
The ten-team upstart league boasts some of the best players in the world, including women’s world number one player Ariana Sanchez Fallada and men’s top players Augustine Tapia and Federico Chingotto.
—
Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The promotion’s founder, UFC boss Dana White, announced Monday that his upstart fighting league would be leaving conservative-leaning Rumble, its livestreaming home for its first 11 events, and moving to the world’s largest video platform beginning Friday for Power Slap 12.
—Matt Craig, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
At least until Oscar night, when this indie upstart could emerge as the big winner.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
Louis Vuitton’s watchmaking division, headed by Jean Arnault, has picked up on this phenomenon, and not only teamed up (twice now) with independent watchmakers on collaborative limited editions, but holds a biennial design competition to bring recognition to these superstar upstarts of watchmaking.
—Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
Vitas Carosella, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The promotion’s founder, UFC boss Dana White, announced Monday that his upstart fighting league would be leaving conservative-leaning Rumble, its livestreaming home for its first 11 events, and moving to the world’s largest video platform beginning Friday for Power Slap 12.
—Matt Craig, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
At least until Oscar night, when this indie upstart could emerge as the big winner.
—Clayton Davis, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
Louis Vuitton’s watchmaking division, headed by Jean Arnault, has picked up on this phenomenon, and not only teamed up (twice now) with independent watchmakers on collaborative limited editions, but holds a biennial design competition to bring recognition to these superstar upstarts of watchmaking.
—Carol Besler, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upstart
Noun
-
Where’s our charming arriviste?—
Jason Gay,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2020
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Compared with some of her peers, she was initially seen as an arriviste.—
Caitlin Moscatello,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2023
Noun
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In 1952, backed by little more than his reputation as a war hero and a fortune staked by his parvenu father, 35-year-old John F. Kennedy swiped a Senate seat from Republican Henry Cabot Lodge, himself a wealthy combat veteran.—
Kevin Mahnken,
The New Republic,
1 Sep. 2020
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Raveendran, at least on paper, assumes his place among those parvenus thanks to his effort in internet education.—
Saritha Rai,
Fortune,
29 July 2019
Noun
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Lindo was set to play Dominic Fortune, a rogue adventurer aiding Adrianne Palicki's Bobbi Morse and Nick Blood's Lance Hunter from the mothership show.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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This ample space is designed to make all types of travelers, from solo adventurers to large families, feel comfortable and at home.—
Ronny Maye,
Forbes.com,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In Rivals, Dyer plays a complex, nouveau riche tech entrepreneur who strikes up an unlikely romance with local author Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson).—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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The battle of the nouveau riche could just as easily be referred to as the Oil Firm.—
Darren Richman,
The Athletic,
21 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upstart. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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