elitist 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of elitistnext
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

elitist

2 of 2

noun

as in snob

Related 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
Adjective
Contrary to their largely fiscal conservative rhetoric and critiques of universities as overly woke and elitist, Republicans generally sponsor earmarks with gusto across the board, including for colleges and universities. — Heather McCambly, The Conversation, 8 June 2026 But no, the competition is more elitist than ever. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 28 May 2026
Noun
In a Fox News interview, Carr portrayed Kimmel as an elitist and his own interests as those of the community. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 18 Sep. 2025 And anyone who thinks of modern Democrats, from Texas or anywhere else, as a collection of elitists or urban snobs would likely not be referring to the 35-year-old Scudder. — John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for elitist
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elitist
  1. aristocratic
  2. snob
  3. arrogant
  4. social climber
  5. snobbish
Adjective
  • Taylor, who reportedly bought his aristocratic title on the internet, was jailed for three years for selling a fake painting by the British artist Lowry through auction house Bonhams.
    — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Similarly, after the traumas of the Civil War and Reconstruction, some Southern writers emphasized aberrant behavior to undercut the aristocratic whitewash of gentility and custom.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of aristocratic
Noun
  • Clever and ambitious, Debicki’s snob is itching for an excuse to leave this hamlet for the city.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Kate Phillips, the BBC’s content chief, has a message for reality TV snobs.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of snob
Adjective
  • Steve Buscemi as Harry’s regular fence; Tatiana Maslany as his estranged daughter; and Will Price as the arrogant, heat-packing scion of a Manhattan crime family also star.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Ever-sensible Elinor, who never asks for much, has already met, and fallen for, Edward Ferrars (George MacKay), Fanny’s brother, as kind and modest as Fanny is arrogant.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of arrogant
Noun
  • Radziwill tells the girls Maxwell was never interested in the real Carole Radziwill, only her name, because Maxwell was a chronic social climber.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Keith played conservative social climber Margo Leadbetter, who is baffled by her neighbor Tom's sustainability-centric lifestyle with wife Barbara Good (Felicity Kendal).
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 29 June 2026
Definition of social climber
Adjective
  • The stranger’s curse seems intended to inflict pain not only on the snobbish Anna, who cringes at the slob her son has become, but her pushy husband Walter (Adriano Giannini).
    — Damon Wise, Deadline, 7 Sep. 2026
  • America’s cheap conveniences can (and often do) spark snobbish criticism about junk food and car culture, but visitors are going viral for enthusiastically embracing the American way.
    — Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of snobbish

Browse Nearby Words

elites
elitist
elitists
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Elitist.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elitist. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of grotesque

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All