as in aristocratic
being or characteristic of a person who has an offensive air of superiority and tends to ignore or disdain anyone regarded as inferior
the complacent, elitist attitude of the members at that suburban country club
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in snob
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of elitist
Kevin M. Schultz, The Conversation, 8 May 2025
His international experience, critics say, is running in rarefied circles like the World Economic Forum in Davos, painting him as an out-of-touch global elitist who has not spent any time dealing with ordinary people.
—Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 18 July 2025
Roth has long argued that some parts of the higher education system are elitist and condescending.
—John T. Shaw, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for elitist
Adjective
And without defenders, enemies redefined liberals, first as out-of-touch elitists, then as allies of corporations ignoring the demands of working people, and eventually, today, as woke snowflakes.
—Kevin M. Schultz, The Conversation, 8 May 2025
His international experience, critics say, is running in rarefied circles like the World Economic Forum in Davos, painting him as an out-of-touch global elitist who has not spent any time dealing with ordinary people.
—Matina Stevis-Gridneff, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
Rogan, like others in his orbit, actually was a liberal whom Democrats alienated with some of the elitist tendencies exhibited by Colbert and NPR.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 18 July 2025
Roth has long argued that some parts of the higher education system are elitist and condescending.
—John T. Shaw, Twin Cities, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for elitist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elitist
Adjective
-
As Mary’s family attempts to rally around the Downton heiress, Robert (Hugh Bonneville) and Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) are navigating their way through more financial strife, with those downstairs also left to ponder what the future holds for aristocratic homes like theirs.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Beyond that, people found the Mitfords’ very, very aristocratic accent extremely annoying.—
Mimi Pond,
People.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There’s a solid, mega-meaty take at the mini-chain Schnipper’s; a terrific vegan version that used to be on the menu at Superiority Burger could have converted even the most skeptical snob or carnivore.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
17 Aug. 2025
-
There’s no nice way to say it—I’m a biscuit snob.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Zane played the arrogant Cal Hockley, who was engaged to Jack's love interest, Rose (played by Kate Winslet).—
Virginia Chamlee,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Hardly seems like enough to cow these arrogant companies into behaving, especially when their business model is so intrinsically tied to hoovering up other people’s information and creative work.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Is Cherry a scheming social climber?—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Because, my goodness, they’re set out on so much land — each the personal playgrounds of ambitious chefs and nouveau-riche social climbers, reveling in the Custom of the Country.—
Jennifer Leigh Parker,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
An unusual - and slightly snobbish - pairing?—
Elisabetta Tosi,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Yet, somewhere along the line, Vulcans have become the butt of the joke with their stiff, snobbish demeanor a source of ridicule for their (supposedly) more progressive human shipmates.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elitist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elitist. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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