ELDERS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

elders

noun

plural of elder

as in adults

a person of advanced years in that Asian society elders are accorded great respect

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as in superiors

one who is above another in rank, station, or office as your elder in the company, he is within his rights to tell you what to do

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as in ancestors

one who is older than another it wouldn't hurt to show a little more respect for your elders

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as in deans

the senior member of a group as the elder of the contingent of living former presidents, he was accorded a place of highest honor at the ceremonies

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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 elders The Nordic communal goal is a focus on holistic well-being that can be sustained over the long term by every individual, from professional athletes in their prime to elders. — Lola Akinmade, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026 Beyond absorbing his elders’ influences, LaFarge’s schoolmates were also impactful. — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 Oct. 2026 Fawn Youngbear-Tibbetts, the group's executive director, said then that recordings of elders' stories on old tapes were likely melted. — Eric Henderson, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Ethnographic accounts from native elders describe how during unique warm-water events in late summer, people voyaged out at night into the fjords, aided by natural bioluminescent plankton. — Torben Rick, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026 This could’ve been a story of seasoned elders welcoming a new voice into their fold. — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 And, a consistent thread over the years, many students were interested in learning from their elders – everything from family histories to intergenerational advice and tough conversations about grief. — Janet W. Lee, NPR, 30 Sep. 2026 Indigenous Australians use the titles ‘uncle’ and ‘aunt’ as marks of respect for community elders. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026 The findings come from interviews with eight members of the Sabaot Indigenous community, including wildlife scouts, guides, elders and a retired ranger, who have spent more than 20 years observing elephants in the region. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elders

Noun

In a study published this year with Redzo Mujcic of Warwick Business School, Graham followed 25,000 Australian adults for 14 years.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
The analysis suggested melatonin could offer advantages over traditional sedatives for older adults, who may be more susceptible to confusion after surgery.

— Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of adults

Noun

The agents indicated to their superiors that the lawmakers could become subjects in the future, according to records viewed by ProPublica.

— Molly Redden, ProPublica, 20 Oct. 2026
An Army officer who fought with his superiors for his soldiers’ safety.

— Washington Post readers, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of superiors

Noun

On Friday, deans and faculty in academic regalia processed into Alumni Park, where the Trojan Marching Band accompanied the national anthem as temperatures climbed toward the 90s during the nearly two-hour ceremony.

— Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
The university says that Glover, in his position as executive advisor, will work with the gamut of university leadership, including the president, provost and college deans.

— Josh Dinner, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of deans

Noun

After waiting and learning behind veterans such as James and Anthony Davis, Reaves is now an undisputed top-two player on the Lakers.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
The catastrophic exit from Afghanistan was devastating to many veterans who had served there.

— Azadeh Moaveni, Vanity Fair, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of veterans

Noun

Head coach Joey Carroll, now in his third season, credits the team's success to a committed group of seniors and a consistent message from the coaching staff.

— Aaron Parseghian, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Star athletes at Lyons, seniors Avery Lee and Jack Lee are not teammates, never interact on the playing field and rarely watch each other’s games.

— Mike McGraw, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026