as in arriviste
one who has recently acquired wealth and social position
having made their money in oil decades ago, they consider these billionaire dot-commers mere upstarts
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upstart
At a moment of cord-cutting and disruption in the traditional TV business, can an upstart cable news channel find a path to growth?
—
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
The political upstart’s comments come days after his shocking Democratic primary victory over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 29 June 2025
Holding its 24th edition from July 4 – 12, the Swiss showcase for fantastical film, Asian cinema and digital creation has evolved in tow, growing from upstart to institution as outré fare and auteurs seized ever-greater opportunities.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 27 June 2025
Founded in Chicago in 2003, the primarily reissue label has grown from a confident upstart to a seasoned veteran.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
The political upstart’s comments come days after his shocking Democratic primary victory over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 29 June 2025
Holding its 24th edition from July 4 – 12, the Swiss showcase for fantastical film, Asian cinema and digital creation has evolved in tow, growing from upstart to institution as outré fare and auteurs seized ever-greater opportunities.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 27 June 2025
Founded in Chicago in 2003, the primarily reissue label has grown from a confident upstart to a seasoned veteran.
—Britt Julious, Chicago Tribune, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upstart
Noun
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Where’s our charming arriviste?—
Jason Gay,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2020
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Compared with some of her peers, she was initially seen as an arriviste.—
Caitlin Moscatello,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2023
Noun
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In 1952, backed by little more than his reputation as a war hero and a fortune staked by his parvenu father, 35-year-old John F. Kennedy swiped a Senate seat from Republican Henry Cabot Lodge, himself a wealthy combat veteran.—
Kevin Mahnken,
The New Republic,
1 Sep. 2020
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Raveendran, at least on paper, assumes his place among those parvenus thanks to his effort in internet education.—
Saritha Rai,
Fortune,
29 July 2019
Noun
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Featuring journalist and adventurer Kinga Philipps, the episode showcases some gorgeous and serene dives with tiger sharks and hammerheads.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
20 July 2025
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Wednesday, July 23 8 p.m. ET: Expedition Unknown: Shark Files - Global adventurer Josh Gates solves some of the strangest and most disturbing shark mysteries of all-time, including the real-life bloody inspiration for the movie Jaws.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
Noun
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It was remodeled by its subsequent owners—the brothers who owned the F. W. Woolworth Company—in the style of Versailles, an over-the-top gesture that from a twenty-first-century vantage point looks quintessentially nouveau riche, and quintessentially New Jersey.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
11 June 2025
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With more romance, shifting power dynamics between the old guard and the nouveau riche and plenty of dramatic twists, there’s a lot to look forward to on Sunday nights this summer.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upstart. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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