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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in snob
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 elitist
Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2025
Hernandez has been quick to criticize Gallego, casting her as part of an elitist political class that has failed to address problems beleaguering working class residents.
—Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2024
Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 2 Dec. 2024
Platform a fierier populist message on the economy and a cooler one on cultural issues that make some of his members feel like Democrats are out-of-touch elitists.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for elitist
Adjective
The new installment of the anthology series will follow a young couple who witnesses an alarming fight between their boss and his wife, triggering chess moves of favors and coercion in the elitist world of a country club and its Korean billionaire owner.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2025
Hernandez has been quick to criticize Gallego, casting her as part of an elitist political class that has failed to address problems beleaguering working class residents.
—Taylor Seely, The Arizona Republic, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
Democrats are still sifting through the rubble of their loss to President-elect Donald Trump last month, with some in the party blaming a reputation -- justified or not -- as elitists out of touch with everyday voters' concerns while cozying up to other wealthy and well-connected allies.
—Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 2 Dec. 2024
Platform a fierier populist message on the economy and a cooler one on cultural issues that make some of his members feel like Democrats are out-of-touch elitists.
—Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for elitist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elitist
Adjective
-
Angelica Huston stars as Lady Tressilian who hosts her favorite nephew, British tennis star Nevile Strange (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) and his new wife Kay (Mimi Keene) and ex-wife Audrey (Ella Lily Hyland) in an aristocratic estate.—
Etan Vlessing,
The Hollywood Reporter,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Emigrating is the first thing she’s ever accomplished on her own, without Spencer or her aristocratic privilege to help her (at least, not that much).—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
9 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Lisette Olivera assumes the mantle as Jess Valenzuela, a history buff and puzzle snob working odd jobs in New Orleans and mourning the recent death of her mother.—
Joshua Alston,
Variety,
14 Dec. 2022
-
On their first day in town, treat your food snob to a fireworks show of Dallas at its most sophisticated.—
Dallas News,
Dallas News,
23 Mar. 2022
Adjective
-
In a world where deal flow is crucial, being labeled as an arrogant VC results in missing out on prime opportunities.—
David Nour,
Forbes.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
The arrogant anti-union stance did not start with the current CEO; even the legendary Studs Terkel was slapped down by WFMT management for his earlier support of an effort to unionize in 1990.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
From the dynastic Dupree family to the conniving social climbers bent on usurping their place at the top of the social hierarchy, the historic new daytime drama is all about its characters.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Where Huang’s wardrobe for Oz emphasizes his position as a clumsy social climber, aspiring to classic mafia masculinity but too crass to fit in with the old-money elite, Sofia represents a different kind of outsider.—
Gavia Baker-Whitelaw,
Vulture,
4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
-
The welcoming spirit was undoubtedly the staff of a mosaic of New Yorkers from all generations, each with impressive luxury CVs who were polar opposites of early-Aughts snobbish retail associates—hello Jeffrey's New York—epitomized in an SNL skit.—
Roxanne Robinson,
Forbes,
22 Mar. 2025
-
But even the most snobbish viewer could see that William Wellman’s The Ox-Bow Incident was no ordinary Western.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elitist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elitist. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share