as in circle
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clique
Among the latter’s clique is secretly nerdy blonde Lizzie (Lulu Wilson), who used to hang out with Jack and Montgomery, before proving pretty and canny enough to switch allegiances.
—
Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
In the post-colonial era, Arab dictators established secular laws, but these legal systems favored the ruling clique.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 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
The clique extends to family, supporters (campaign donors, say) and other friends.
—Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clique
Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
In the post-colonial era, Arab dictators established secular laws, but these legal systems favored the ruling clique.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 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
The clique extends to family, supporters (campaign donors, say) and other friends.
—Andreas Kluth, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clique
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clique
Noun
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Stacy Jennings posted 2 hits, 2 RBIs and a walk while also dominating in the circle, allowing three hits and zero earned runs.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
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It had been mounted on a small platform, which bore a little icon of a pair of feet inside a backslash circle, as though stepping into a guillotine were every museumgoer’s wish.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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On the night of Cabo Verde’s qualifying victory, Moreira recalled, players celebrated on a beach with crowds of fans.—
Albert Samaha,
New Yorker,
31 Mar. 2026
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Monday’s start represented the largest home crowd (36,702) that Cabrera has ever pitched in front of in his career.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That fall, an old friend reached out to my father through the underground communications network, dialling a number printed on a faded piece of plastic Dymo tape and speaking to him from a public phone booth.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
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Your network is ready to grow, and travel, whether to see existing friends or connect with professional contacts, is well supported this month.—
Kirah Tabourn,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The international film community—including the Cannes, Berlin, and Venice festivals and the American Cinematheque—spoke out against these persecutions.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
27 Mar. 2026
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Barnardsville is an unincorporated community about a 150-mile drive northwest from Charlotte.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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In the past few years, Underwood has come to realize that a bunch of barking alphas may not, in fact, be the best way to build a successful pack.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
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So the idea of witnessing a wedding and what that does to you internally birthed the idea of, okay, actually, a bunch of people are going to spontaneously bleed to death at this wedding.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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As gangs continue to expand and consolidate territorial control, journalists remain in growing danger, according to the commission and other press freedom groups.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
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Growing up in Hollywood and Hyde Park, among other parts of the city, Mazariegos was intimately familiar with gun and gang violence.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Shipley Donuts Shipley Donuts is offering a free four-pack of kolaches for loyalty members on April 1, according to a news release and a post on their official Facebook page.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Each pack consists of a photocard for either Huntr/X or the Saja Boys and a Derpy access card with a QR code that unlocks exclusive content via the McDonald's app.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Executioning was a hereditary métier, monopolized in Paris by the Sanson clan for nearly two centuries.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
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The purpose of our mountain drive this morning is to rendezvous with Fitz and the rest of the Caldwell clan and take advantage of the virgin powder now piling up around California’s Carson Pass.—
Namir Khaliq,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clique.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clique. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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