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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oligarchy
Instead, this administration plans to focus on consolidating power, enriching themselves, and rewarding billionaire donors like Musk, who exemplify the MAGA oligarchy.
—
Laura Rodriguez, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2025
The other half feared a nation on the verge of fascism and, in now former President Joe Biden’s telling, a tech billionaire oligarchy.
—David Mastio, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2025
President Joe Biden’s historic farewell speech warned us: American democracy is dying because of Trump’s oligarchy.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2025
We’ve been warned for decades that America is or is becoming an oligarchy.
—Ezra Klein, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for oligarchy 
Laura Rodriguez, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2025
The other half feared a nation on the verge of fascism and, in now former President Joe Biden’s telling, a tech billionaire oligarchy.
—David Mastio, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2025
President Joe Biden’s historic farewell speech warned us: American democracy is dying because of Trump’s oligarchy.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2025
We’ve been warned for decades that America is or is becoming an oligarchy.
—Ezra Klein, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for oligarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oligarchy
Noun
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Written and directed by Alex Russell, Lurker follows retail employee Matthew (Pellerin), who infiltrates the clique of a rising musician, Oliver (Madekwe).—
Alejandra Gularte,
Vulture,
28 Jan. 2025
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Instead of clumping together by position and intensifying those natural cliques, mixing teammates would strengthen bonds throughout the roster.—
Ben Standig,
The Athletic,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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In the trailer, Pakistani-American brothers Mir (Asif Ali) and Raj (Saagar Shaikh) Dar discover that their father’s convenience store empire was nothing but a front, and that the real family business has been selling drugs all along.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2025
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His business empire extends from power generation, airports, mining, ports, and cement.—
Yessar Rosendar,
Forbes,
10 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The heart of Myanmar’s rare earths mining operations was in the hands of an ethnic Kachin militia tied to the junta.—
Hannah Beech,
New York Times,
31 Dec. 2024
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But in the early decades of the country's modern history, dictators and military juntas enforced martial law to squash political rivals and pro-democracy movements, often citing unsubstantiated threats from North Korea as the reason.—
Anthony Kuhn,
NPR,
4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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When Johnson Sirleaf came to power, in 2006, Liberia had been wracked by more than a decade of civil war, a military dictatorship, and chronic poverty.—
John Cassidy,
The New Yorker,
8 Feb. 2025
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If allowed to proceed, Trump's purge of our federal law enforcement workforce will expose America to authoritarianism and dictatorship.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
3 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near oligarchy
Cite this Entry
“Oligarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oligarchy. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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