1
as in cliques
a small group of people who exercise control over a country, business, etc.
Critics complain that the government is now dominated by an oligarchy of wealthy businesspeople.
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2
as in empires
government that is controlled by a small group of people
The nation was an oligarchy with election results manipulated to maintain a permanent ruling class.
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oligarchies
Noun
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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,
Literary Hub,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The guys who have literally created their entire media empires around being online and around the clip ecosystem, livestreaming, et cetera?—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
24 Apr. 2026
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Syracuse began as an ancient Greek settlement nearly 3,000 years ago, and its beauty has beckoned both travelers and empires for centuries (Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Norman, to name a few).—
Michele Becker,
Travel + Leisure,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Following coups in all three nations in recent years, the ruling juntas have expelled French forces and turned to Russia’s mercenary units for security assistance instead.—
Molly Quell,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
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Following military coups, the juntas in the three countries have turned from Western allies to Russia for help in combating Islamic militants.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
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The primary strategic target of the declaration was the Bourbon monarchies of France and Spain, Britain’s chief rivals.—
Christopher Magra,
The Conversation,
7 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Oligarchies.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oligarchies. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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