1
as in aristocracy
individuals carefully selected as being the best of a class
the winners of this science award represent the elite of our high schools
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in nobility
the highest class in a society
the country's elite owned or controlled most of the wealth
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in exclusive
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elite
Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
The Red Wings are still missing a no-doubt elite force.
—The Athletic Nhl, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 24 Sep. 2025
To me, the greatness of a nation is not measured by the grandeur of its monuments, its wealth and the class of its elite.
—Bruce Higgins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for elite
Noun
The Fox competition show sees celebrities from all walks of life face grueling training exercises led by directing staff (DS) agents, an elite team of ex–Special Forces operatives.
—Adjective
Initially targeting affluent travelers, Hollywood stars and business elites, the hotel now attracts a diverse clientele, including history enthusiasts, tourists and business travelers.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for elite
Noun
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Like Macbeth, King Henry met his tragic end when a civil war broke out and the aristocracy turned against him.—
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That world is where Downton's Cora Crawley (Elizabeth McGovern) comes from, once a young American heiress who married into the British aristocracy to help preserve the Downton estate with her dowry.—
Noun
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But in, say, the French Revolution, things got going in part because of the popular unrest and the popular upheavals, but also because there was an inner circle of members of the French nobility who were totally pissed at Louis XVI.—
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So there's a nobility in that, but also an ickiness.—
Adjective
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This year, Armani beauty hosted a special dinner for movers and shakers, presented the Audience Award – Venezia Spotlight – and debuted the Giorgio Armani Cinema Club, an exclusive sanctuary for industry experts, artists and creators.—
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Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler.—
Noun
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Course Difficulty Flat, straight courses without many hills favor personal bests.—
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Kyle Schwarber is in the midst of what may be the most explosive offensive season of his MLB career, already setting personal bests with 53 home runs and 128 RBI.—
Noun
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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.—
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Elordi plays Heathcliff, the romantic anti-hero who is discovered on the streets before being taken in by a wealthy member of Britain’s landed gentry, only to fall in love with their daughter.—
Adjective
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The case was dismissed in July 2024 by Judge Aileen Cannon on constitutional grounds (invalid appointment of the special counsel).—
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Something special for the anniversary.—
Noun
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Remove parchment circle from top of pie.—
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Store in a freezer-safe zip-top bag or airtight container, and label and date before freezing.—
Adjective
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Without better reporting, lawmakers and analysts will have to act with incomplete knowledge, essentially guessing effective tax rates based on limited and sometimes misleading reporting.—
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By better understanding how the AAC organizes vocal output in budgerigars, researchers hope to gain new insights into human speech disorders, such as aphasia and Parkinson’s disease, which can impair a person’s ability to produce language.—
Cite this Entry
“Elite.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elite. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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