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
Unlike many robo-taxi upstarts that have faded or shifted focus, Waymo is actually scaling.
—
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
That capability is aimed squarely at nuclear upstart North Korea.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 20 May 2025
Like so many rivalries, this comes steeped in its own lore and stereotypes: River the rich kids from the Belgrano neighbourhood, Boca the plucky upstarts, street fighters from the wrong side of the tracks.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 9 June 2025
Powered by Juvenile, B.G., and Turk, Wayne was a young upstart, sliding in as an edgy wildcard capable of pouncing on any beat with ruthless intentions.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
That capability is aimed squarely at nuclear upstart North Korea.
—Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 20 May 2025
Like so many rivalries, this comes steeped in its own lore and stereotypes: River the rich kids from the Belgrano neighbourhood, Boca the plucky upstarts, street fighters from the wrong side of the tracks.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 9 June 2025
Powered by Juvenile, B.G., and Turk, Wayne was a young upstart, sliding in as an edgy wildcard capable of pouncing on any beat with ruthless intentions.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 6 June 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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On an east to west traverse of Antarctica in 2005, White Desert co-founder Patrick Woodhead was so captivated by the rugged beauty of the interior that he and his wife, Robyn, were inspired to give other intrepid adventurers the chance to experience it.—
Chloe Berge,
Outside Online,
17 June 2025
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The first of their kind in the state, these rustic lodgings afford adventurers comfortable (if not luxurious) places to overnight during mountain-biking, hiking, and fishing forays deep into the wilderness, says Shaun Deutschlander.—
Scott Bay,
Travel + Leisure,
13 June 2025
Noun
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With more romance, shifting power dynamics between the old guard and the nouveau riche and plenty of dramatic twists, there’s a lot to look forward to on Sunday nights this summer.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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On the other side of 61st Street, the nouveau riche Russell family becomes a case study in that classic Whartonian theme: the complicated web of love, money and status.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
20 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upstart. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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