Thesaurus results for OLIGARCHY

oligarchy

noun

Definition of oligarchy

as in clique

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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as in empire

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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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 oligarchy But these days, at one of Ukraine’s most prestigious universities, the likes of Pushkin, Chekhov, and Dostoyevsky have given way to such topics as Russian disinformation and propaganda, how its foreign intelligence operates, and understanding Russia’s elites and oligarchy. — Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 27 June 2026 After shares rallied to a peak of $225 on June 16, a stunning 50 percent rise over their opening price, Musk officially became the world’s very-first trillionaire — an obscene hyper-capitalist milestone highlighting the tech oligarchy’s iron grip on society. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 24 June 2026 Breaking the hold of tech and financial oligarchies, including a ban on algorithmic wage-setting, ensures that AI does not become a tool for gutting the middle class. — Sarita Gupta, Time, 2 June 2026 His new movie, about a wealthy Moscow family, is both an erotic thriller and an indictment of amoral oligarchy detached from the war with Ukraine. — Film Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for oligarchy

Recent Examples of Synonyms for oligarchy

Noun

Amid the crushes, cliques, and teenage angst, two sisters set out to define themselves on their own terms.

— Denise Petski, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
In a number of sensitive sectors, such as telecommunications, EVs, and drones, such cliques have already formed, setting bans and restrictions on the use of equipment from Chinese telecommunications companies Huawei and ZTE.

— Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of clique

Noun

His meteoric rise ultimately puts him in the sights of Brazil’s Federal Police, culminating in a major operation that brings his empire crashing down, all before the age of 17.

— Ed Meza, Variety, 21 Aug. 2026
Founded in 1960 in Rehoboth Beach, Grotto Pizza has since grown into an empire with 16 locations around the state.

— USA TODAY Network, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of empire

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“Oligarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oligarchy. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of oligarchy

noun

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