as in networks
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially
that clique refuses to even talk to outsiders at their lunch table
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Recent Examples of cliques
In this milieu, Hollywood A-listers like Will Ferrell and Sharon Stone, who occupy separate cliques nearby, pale in comparison to the mingling artistic luminaries.
—
Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Neither wants to navigate the cliques and social politics of this messy consolidated school.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Instead, the researchers think the violence stemmed from a breakdown of friendships and escalations between cliques and rivals.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
The dark comedy about teen suicide and social cliques was adapted into a musical by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy and had an off-Broadway run in 2014.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
During Tuesday’s board meeting, Sheriff Robert Luna insisted that a series of measures have been or were being implemented to prevent deputies’ participation in internal cliques or gangs.
—City News Service, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Their parties became notorious even in my own cliques; my parents knew to expect at least a few dozen teenagers crashing their party, sucking down all the noodles, and sneaking beers in the canyon down below.
—Natasha Pickowicz, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2026
This graph had no cliques — clusters of nodes that are all connected to one another.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 28 Jan. 2026
What began as a search for community and understanding turned into an experience that felt akin to the cliques and social hierarchies of high school.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 25 Jan. 2026
Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Neither wants to navigate the cliques and social politics of this messy consolidated school.
—Literary Hub, 14 Apr. 2026
Instead, the researchers think the violence stemmed from a breakdown of friendships and escalations between cliques and rivals.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026
The dark comedy about teen suicide and social cliques was adapted into a musical by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy and had an off-Broadway run in 2014.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 Apr. 2026
During Tuesday’s board meeting, Sheriff Robert Luna insisted that a series of measures have been or were being implemented to prevent deputies’ participation in internal cliques or gangs.
—City News Service, Daily News, 8 Apr. 2026
Their parties became notorious even in my own cliques; my parents knew to expect at least a few dozen teenagers crashing their party, sucking down all the noodles, and sneaking beers in the canyon down below.
—Natasha Pickowicz, Vogue, 20 Feb. 2026
This graph had no cliques — clusters of nodes that are all connected to one another.
—Leila Sloman, Quanta Magazine, 28 Jan. 2026
What began as a search for community and understanding turned into an experience that felt akin to the cliques and social hierarchies of high school.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cliques
Noun
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This approach emphasizes not just procurement, but also the development of doctrine, training frameworks, logistics networks, and sustained operational deployment in real-world conditions.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
-
For regional hospital networks, community banks, and mid-sized manufacturers, retrofitting quantum security into a legacy network is not a straightforward IT upgrade.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But there will be political pressure against that from some Black and Hispanic Democrats who want to ensure their communities still command the majority in certain districts.—
Nicholas Riccardi,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Twin Cities’ response to a sweeping federal immigration crackdown that threw communities and local economies into turmoil offers a glimpse of what resilience and solidarity look like in practice.—
Melissa Jun Rowley,
Rolling Stone,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Gathering spaces throughout the property offer learning, reflection and spiritual experiences, and the studio often hosts events like drum circles and sound baths.—
Belinda Luksic,
Southern Living,
1 May 2026
-
Tongues set to wagging about whether the iconic bad boss at its center was really based on legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour — in some circles, anyway.—
Staff Author,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ramaswamy has been running what looks like a general election campaign, drawing impressive crowds during visits to each of Ohio’s 88 counties.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Sets from upstarts like Creepy Nuts, Pawsa, Geese and Slayyyter, along with emphatic crowds at rock heavyweights like Jack White, Turnstile and even Sombr, traded seamlessness and precision for immediacy and friction — louder, looser, more physical in ways that were best felt than watched.—
Andrea Domanick,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The designation has since been renewed multiple times as the country faces a host of crises, including widespread violence by armed gangs, food insecurity, displacement and a leadership vacuum after the president was assassinated in 2021.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Schoeman van Jaarsveld dedicated his life to protecting rhinos from poaching gangs in South Africa.—
Ryan Brennan
April 27,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Through the team, guests can tap chef Julian Martinez of Barbareño for everything from breakfast spreads and picnic packs to private dinners and even pizza-making classes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Pepsi faced bogus charges for making volume deals that let families buy soda 12-packs for a few bucks — not at boutique pricing of a dollar per can.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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However, the ruthless King Saran (Oscar nominee Chiwetel Ejiofor) has suppressed magic users and enacts a rule of terror, which Zelie hopes to end in order to reunite Orisha’s clans.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
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After fighting to find their way back to one another, Henry and Julia were at the standing stones of Craig Na Dun, hoping to return to their own time, and Brian and Ellen’s romantic escape was interrupted as the 1715 Jacobite Rising began, thrusting the clans into war.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Last Witch Hunter, about the one man who stands between humanity and the most horrible witch covens imaginable, grossed $130 million at the worldwide box office at the time of its initial theatrical release in 2015.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
8 Sep. 2025
-
By then the witchy girl was everywhere, forming outcast covens in The Craft, fighting supernatural baddies in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed, all grown up and empowered to destroy abusive boyfriends in Practical Magic.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
10 Oct. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Cliques.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cliques. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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