elites

noun

plural of elite
as in aristocracies
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class the winners of this science award represent the elite of our high schools

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 elites Visible minorities remain vastly underrepresented among France’s political and business elites. — Nicholas Bequelin, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 There is a lot of frustration on the part of the population already, even within some elites, that maybe the regime should have shown some flexibility in some of the negotiations, for example. — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026 Their mobilization since then has mirrored a wider wave of youth protests in other countries, particularly in South Asia, where Gen Z demonstrators have challenged political elites. — ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026 In the heady satire about elites causing worldwide climate destruction, Cruise plays the titular Digger Rockwell, an out-of-touch oil tycoon. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, new Gallup research suggested the technology’s benefits have largely been concentrated among elites. — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026 In the absence of any sustained challenge to their power, elites seem to trust their capacity to continually outmaneuver the majority of the population regardless of whether or not they are actually trusted. — Via Haymarket Books, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026 Voters should select their candidates instead of the elites who spend millions of dollars to place their preferred candidates in office. — Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026 The gruesome 2023 murder of Choi, who rubbed shoulders with showbiz elites at fashion events and had a significant online following, sent shockwaves through the wealthy financial hub and made global headlines. — Chris Lau, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elites
  1. best
  2. societies
  3. elect
Noun
  • Lamb had 189 yards receiving on career bests of 21 targets and 17 catches.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Pugh’s performance is a master class in physicality and flair, one of her career bests.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of best
Noun
  • Despite the efforts to redress the problem, South Africa remains one of the world’s most unequal societies.
    — Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • The best crime thrillers consider the way violence, an endemic feature of human societies, can spiral out of hand.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of societies
Noun
  • The first meeting was in November of last year at the White House, when Mamdani was mayor elect, and the second was in February, also at the White House.
    — Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • The governor-elect faced a fight over removing Nick Balletto, who had initially been dismissive of Lamont as a candidate, as the Democratic state chair.
    — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of elect

Browse Nearby Words

elite
elites
elitist
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Cite this Entry

“Elites.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elites. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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