Thesaurus results for UPSTART

upstart

noun

ˈəp-ˌstärt

Definition of upstart

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

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 upstart More traditional news outlets are growing comfortable with less formal presentations and personalities, part of a gradual coming together of stories news brands and new, digital upstarts who are winning significant slices of attention through newsletters, podcasts and subscription media products. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 24 June 2026 The upstart upended Silicon Valley with its cost-effective open-source model last year, and is seen as leading Beijing’s race against the US. — Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 16 June 2026 At 14 years old, Candy Crush is a grizzled veteran, a heritage brand up against a thousand young upstarts. — Kamal Ahmed, Fortune, 15 June 2026 Or could an upstart that prioritizes love and mercy, say, over dominion lure away their customers? — Michael Luo, New Yorker, 14 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for upstart

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upstart

Noun

And yet, the digital arrivistes could only gain so much traction with a broader customer base and needed a boost from tie-ins with old-school counterparts.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Certainly there’s a long and distinguished tradition of associating Jewish arrivistes with entrepreneurialism, avarice, and clannishness.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

Definition of arriviste

Noun

Whether a whiskey connoisseur, aviation aficionado, outdoor adventurer, or eclectic foodie, the small town of Tullahoma, Tennessee, has much to offer you.

— Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 1 July 2026
Just like a certain adventurer with some mean, mean pride, Rush are currently embarking on their fiftieth anniversary tour, a prog-rock pilgrimage that will take them around the world and back for the next year.

— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 17 June 2026

Definition of adventurer

Noun

And all of this comes on the heels of the glitzy opening of the Six Senses Crans-Montana ski-in, ski-out resort, and the nouveau riche crowd that comes with it.

— Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 4 May 2026
Vandelli thinks Stilley is nouveau riche; Stilley thinks Vandelli is a bully.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 May 2026

Definition of nouveau riche

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upstanding

upstart

upstarts

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“Upstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upstart. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of upstart

noun

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