elder

1
2
as in superior
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in ancestor
one who is older than another it wouldn't hurt to show a little more respect for your elders

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4

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 elder But Lawson in a statement to The Tennessean said his public admission of wrongdoing and his commitment behind the scenes to receive counseling from Stephens Valley elders is a genuine endeavor. Liam Adams, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025 That comports with the widespread belief that sharp increases in the cost of living during the Biden-Harris administration were a big factor in the pro-Trump shift, as younger voters felt the pinch of inflation more than their elders. Dan Walters, Mercury News, 8 July 2025 For elders like Midar, separation from ancestral lands and graves represents not just a physical loss but a spiritual wound that may never heal, in a culture where proximity to family graves is key to a cultural sense of good fortune. Willem Marx, NPR, 7 July 2025 From building trades to language reclamation, the festival seeks to explore the ways in which young people navigate today’s world while also learning from and making anew the traditions of their elders. Michelle Mehrtens, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for elder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elder
Noun
  • Bags are $23, and each person (children and adults) must purchase a bag to enter the orchard.
    Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025
  • June 17-13: An Economist/YouGov poll found 54% of voters disapprove of Trump’s job performance, while 41% approve (the survey of 1,512 U.S. adults was conducted June 13-16 and has a 3.3-point margin of error).
    Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • Tsui has three major tips for young staffers to stay in line with company dress codes and avoid getting sacked for their outfit: Take inspiration from your superiors: Take a look around the office or check how older coworkers are showing up in Zoom calls.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 24 July 2025
  • And when Deschanel was once 30 minutes late to work because of an accident on her commute, series creator Hart Hanson was forced to deliver a harsh message from his superiors.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 12 July 2025
Noun
  • Such cooperative behavior to defend from predators like raptors may have first evolved in our ancestors.
    Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 July 2025
  • The fifth-generation Southerner said removing the monument would be a betrayal to the memory of his ancestors and other soldiers.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • The shows are also considered a powerful symbol of Puerto Rican self-reliance and the belief that the US territory can stand tall on its own, says Javier J. Hernández Acosta, dean of the School of Arts, Design and Creative Industries at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan.
    Michael Rios, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
  • The group’s chair, Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, a kidney specialist who was a former dean at the University of Pennsylvania’s medical school, said in an interview that his organization had worked with the Trump administration and that threats of funding cuts were key to the effort.
    Azeen Ghorayshi, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Noun
  • Who among us oldsters doesn’t enjoy a good VFX-costume parlay?
    Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Feb. 2025
  • Folks back in the day had Yoda as their feisty oldster and the kids now have Maz. 36.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 24 May 2023
Noun
  • Marino ended up paying for the drugs himself to satisfy his boss, but then Butler asked him to move more contraband, leaving Marino in a precarious situation.
    Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 22 July 2025
  • In an exclusive interview with Newsweek, Ross poured praise on his former boss's tariff plans, but said that the main challenge now will be reaching a fully fledged and durable agreement with China, and securing a trade deal with the European Union.
    Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
Noun
  • But the veterans are still having their say in Europe — and beyond.
    Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 26 July 2025
  • Multiple teams have expressed interest in the Royals’ top veterans.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2025
Noun
  • Doctors at the Center for Geriatric Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic have found social prescribing especially valuable for seniors, says Dr. Ardeshir Hashmi, chief of geriatrics.
    Rhitu Chatterjee, NPR, 14 July 2025
  • Various private clinics in the fields of surgery, dentistry, cardiology, and geriatrics are available, as well as senior-friendly services.
    Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Elder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elder. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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