1
as in adults
a person of advanced years
in that Asian society elders are accorded great respect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in ancestors
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of elders
These are our children, our parents, our siblings, our elders, our neighbors, and our loved ones.
—
Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
The register is full of secrets, and allows Lucy to uncover the stories of her elders, including her mother.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Epstein realized the Beatles needed to be freshly scrubbed in order to play in the spaces controlled by the entertainment elders who booked bands and controlled the old‑school show‑business platforms.
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
The Osmonds’ success earned them a rarified status in the Church of Latter-day Saints, with church elders crediting them with tens of thousands of baptisms during the Seventies.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
The Herald collected state data that show how nearly 95% of elders removed from their homes for their own welfare never appear before a judge or speak with an attorney.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
Metcalfe Park Elders is a series of profiles featuring elders living in Milwaukee's Metcalfe Park neighborhood who share their personal stories, memories and vision for the future of their community.
—April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Gerontocracy has always thrived in undemocratic places—Communist people’s republics, Gulf monarchies—where only death could pry power from the ruling elders.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
On this day families gather for festive meals, and the young seek blessings from their elders.
—Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
The register is full of secrets, and allows Lucy to uncover the stories of her elders, including her mother.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Epstein realized the Beatles needed to be freshly scrubbed in order to play in the spaces controlled by the entertainment elders who booked bands and controlled the old‑school show‑business platforms.
—Literary Hub, 21 Apr. 2026
The Osmonds’ success earned them a rarified status in the Church of Latter-day Saints, with church elders crediting them with tens of thousands of baptisms during the Seventies.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 21 Apr. 2026
The Herald collected state data that show how nearly 95% of elders removed from their homes for their own welfare never appear before a judge or speak with an attorney.
—Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 21 Apr. 2026
Metcalfe Park Elders is a series of profiles featuring elders living in Milwaukee's Metcalfe Park neighborhood who share their personal stories, memories and vision for the future of their community.
—April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Gerontocracy has always thrived in undemocratic places—Communist people’s republics, Gulf monarchies—where only death could pry power from the ruling elders.
—Idrees Kahloon, The Atlantic, 13 Apr. 2026
On this day families gather for festive meals, and the young seek blessings from their elders.
—Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elders
Noun
-
After their beloved, but toxic, friend group is shaken to its core by one couple's split and their friend's death, the six adults have to figure out a way to move on.—
Madeleine Janz,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Coming from the theater, Frank had an old-school approach to performance and atmosphere, while Eleanor, trained in social work and psychology, had an acute understanding of extreme human behavior in kids and adults.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Though young missing-persons detective Dalia (May Calamawy) is earnest in her attempts to help, her superiors cast suspicion on Katie’s parents; eight years later, the girl is still missing, while the family has relocated to New Mexico.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Based on their own investigation, Brown’s team submitted an affidavit to their superiors at DOJ that did not make a strong enough case to move forward with what Olsen wanted.—
Doug Bock Clark,
ProPublica,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
All of us are here because, over millennia of acts of God and wars and disease, our ancestors trusted the hours.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Regardless of whether plans are rejigged, there will be plenty of pomp and circumstance for Charles, 77, as befitting a state visit of a British king to a country that his ancestors once ruled.—
Yuliya Talmazan,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
There are no deans or Title IX officers intervening.—
Jennifer Wilson,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Pageants, deans' lists, graduations or military enlistments are not accepted.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Coral upset experienced veterans of the sport, Christina Gasparich from Los Angeles, and Calla Allison from San Clemente, both of whom have been on the USA National BodySurfing Team for the past three years in-a-row.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
With veterans Garett Bolles and Mike McGlinchey both still locked in as 2026 starters, Burke could be a fascinating investment for offensive-line coach Zach Strief.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Most oldsters like myself still will probably find revisiting the piece enjoyable.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Feb. 2026
-
But Italian brainrot’s invisible massiveness, totally foreign to oldsters but beloved by children across continents and languages, is a compelling and chilling showcase of our frazzled internet culture landscape.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The film examines the generation who never expected to become senior citizens in the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and decades of oppression, who now find themselves trailblazers again as the first openly LGBTQ seniors.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
29 Apr. 2026
-
For seniors with chronic knee pain, correcting these issues dramatically reduces the likelihood of requiring knee replacement.—
Bryan T. Kelly,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Most American medical schools ensure that every student rotates through pediatrics; far fewer require a dedicated geriatrics rotation.—
Ken Dychtwald,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
In Episode 12, Robby suggested Mohan's skill set and work rate were both better suited for geriatrics.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Elders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elders. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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