1
as in clique
a small group of people who exercise control over a country, business, etc.
Critics complain that the government is now dominated by an oligarchy of wealthy businesspeople.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in empire
government that is controlled by a small group of people
The nation was an oligarchy with election results manipulated to maintain a permanent ruling class.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oligarchy
But Trump’s hoax will not work for long, given the oligarchy’s conspicuous takeover of America under Trump II.
—
Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 20 Jan. 2025
So this is pretty much the jewel in the crown of the global oligarchies.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
President Biden warned in his farewell address to the nation last week that an oligarchy is taking shape in America.
—Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Google searches for the term oligarchy rose sharply after Biden's speech and have remained higher than usual throughout the week, according to data from the search engine.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for oligarchy 
Robert B. Reich, Hartford Courant, 20 Jan. 2025
So this is pretty much the jewel in the crown of the global oligarchies.
—Justin Gest, Newsweek, 20 Jan. 2025
President Biden warned in his farewell address to the nation last week that an oligarchy is taking shape in America.
—Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Google searches for the term oligarchy rose sharply after Biden's speech and have remained higher than usual throughout the week, according to data from the search engine.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 18 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for oligarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oligarchy
Noun
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What makes this comedy a permanent fixture in the zeitgeist is its kaleidoscopic look at the end of high school, never just focusing on any one clique, but, instead, daring to try and capture them all.—
Brian Smolensky and James Mercadante,
EW.com,
27 Jan. 2025
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More than just seeking to destroy the damaging cliques at his new school, Slater’s character has plans for something a little more permanent in this comedy that really shaped the teen genre for years to come.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Despite her growing empire and larger-than-life public persona, Rae is quick to dispel one common misconception.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
31 Jan. 2025
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Emmy nominee Kaitlyn Dever leads an ensemble cast including Alycia Debnam-Carey in this story of a wellness empire built on shifting sands.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2025
Noun
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For years, the junta, trying to maintain the illusion of normalcy, refuses to acknowledge that he was even arrested.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
30 Jan. 2025
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China is also seen as a key backer of Myanmar’s junta, which is embroiled in a civil war.—
Colin Meyn,
The Hill,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
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During the third year of his sentence, he's placed in a cell with Valentin (Diego Luna), a revolutionary who is vital to the fight against Argentina's military dictatorship.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
27 Jan. 2025
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Molina, a gay hairdresser convicted of public indecency during Argentina’s brutal military dictatorship, has been sent to the political wing of a prison and put in the same cell as Valentin Arregui (a solid, if unremarkable Diego Luna), an intense and serious-minded Marxist revolutionary.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near oligarchy
Cite this Entry
“Oligarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oligarchy. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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