UPPER-CRUST Synonyms: 128 Similar and Opposite Words

upper-crust 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of upper-crust

as in aristocratic

of high birth, rank, or station an interior designer who has intimate knowledge of the tastes of her upper-crust clientele

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

upper crust

2 of 2

noun

as in aristocracy

individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class the conference was a gathering of the upper crust of the computer programming industry

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in nobility

the highest class in a society a specialty clothing store for the upper crust

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 upper-crust

Adjective

Josh is married to Lindsay (Carey Mulligan), an upper-crust Brit who has all the external status markers that Josh lacks, but perhaps not his obsequious gifts or ambition. — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2026 Hamm plays a suburbanite who steals from his wealthy New York neighbors to maintain his upper-crust lifestyle. — ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026

Noun

Link, whose real name is Dylan, helped to create Alex prior to the mass extinction event that sent the world's upper crust into Paradise. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Mar. 2026 One measurement among many that marks the Broncos’ ascent back to the NFL’s upper crust in recent years is the seemingly annual attempts to pillage Sean Payton’s coaching staff. — Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upper-crust

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upper-crust

Adjective

Around them, an aristocratic winemaker defines his legacy, a legendary maître d’hôtel seeks his heir, and a reverent wine critic pursues the sublime.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 2 Sep. 2026
By the 20th century, summer excursions to the Highlands were a fixture of the aristocratic calendar, with transatlantic visitors soon joining the English to shoot, fish, and feign indifference to horizontal rain.

— Hayley Maitland, Vogue, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of aristocratic

Noun

Just a few days earlier at Palazzo Brancaccio, the ladies of the Roman aristocracy had vied to appear in the ballroom scenes, perhaps hoping to meet Gregory Peck.

— Daria Egidi, Vanity Fair, 23 Aug. 2026
Upon his arrival in London, Mai became something of a celebrity among the aristocracy, and was welcomed by King George III.

— Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of aristocracy

Noun

He was branded a heretic, in part for preaching that the nobility were immoral and so was nobility itself.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026
Originally published in Esquire magazine, this group portrait of jazz nobility was photographed at 17 East 126th Street in New York City.

— David Morgan, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of nobility

Noun

Benton had career bests in tackles (51), tackles for loss (6) and sacks (5 1/2) while helping the Steelers to the AFC North title.

— CBS News, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026
With the three-row Kia Sorento, the Hyundai Palisade retains the South Korean brands’ 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, both segment and industry bests.

— James Raia, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of best

Noun

But then for all his modernity as a playful father, the Darwins were members of the Victorian upper class.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026
Newport, Rhode Island A go-to destination for the upper class during the Gilded Age, Newport is a classic New England destination with some truly gorgeous mansions that visitors can tour.

— Kara Nesvig, Parents, 15 July 2026

Definition of upper class

Noun

Parker will play Mary Washington, George’s strong willed mother, while Rodgers will play Sally Cary, the charming beauty of the Virginia gentry who first sees his potential.

— Alex Ritman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
Grammer will play Lord Fairfax, the unofficial leader of the Virginia gentry who has a complicated relationship to young George Washington as both his crucial mentor and as the father of his romantic rival.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025

Definition of gentry

Noun

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
With energy prices moving higher in July so far, and recent strong statements on fighting inflation, markets see broadly a 1 in 3 chance that the FOMC elects to increase rates in July.

— Simon Moore, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of elect

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upperclassmen

upper-crust

upper crust

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Style

“Upper-crust.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upper-crust. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of upper-crust

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

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Cite this Entry

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