1
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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2
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oligarchy
President Biden warned in his farewell address to the nation last week that an oligarchy is taking shape in America.
—
Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Google searches for the term oligarchy rose sharply after Biden's speech and have remained higher than usual throughout the week, according to data from the search engine.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 18 Jan. 2025
President Joe Biden delivered his final address from the Oval Office this week, using the speech as an opportunity to warn about the threat of an impending oligarchy in America.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
Unlike a democracy, an oligarchy is a system where a small and elite group takes control of the government.
—Mandy Taheri, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oligarchy 
Elisabeth Bumiller, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2025
Google searches for the term oligarchy rose sharply after Biden's speech and have remained higher than usual throughout the week, according to data from the search engine.
—Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 18 Jan. 2025
President Joe Biden delivered his final address from the Oval Office this week, using the speech as an opportunity to warn about the threat of an impending oligarchy in America.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 17 Jan. 2025
Unlike a democracy, an oligarchy is a system where a small and elite group takes control of the government.
—Mandy Taheri, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for oligarchy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oligarchy
Noun
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What makes this comedy a permanent fixture in the zeitgeist is its kaleidoscopic look at the end of high school, never just focusing on any one clique, but, instead, daring to try and capture them all.—
Brian Smolensky and James Mercadante,
EW.com,
27 Jan. 2025
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More than just seeking to destroy the damaging cliques at his new school, Slater’s character has plans for something a little more permanent in this comedy that really shaped the teen genre for years to come.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The basis of this business empire is the Blago Group of Companies.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
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The app has built empires – securing footwear brands and reality television slots for the D’Amelio family, also launching careers for Lil Nas X and, more recently, Benson Boone.—
Thania Garcia,
Variety,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Burma's junta is enabled by two key powers: China and Russia.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
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Those three, all now controlled by juntas, have since turned to Russia for security support, ignoring calls from their Western ex-partners for a swift return to civilian rule.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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And ultimately, South Koreans may decide the time has come to revise the constitution, written in 1948 under U.S. military occupation and last revised in 1987 under military dictatorship.—
John Delury,
Foreign Affairs,
27 Jan. 2025
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Molina, a gay hairdresser convicted of public indecency during Argentina’s brutal military dictatorship, has been sent to the political wing of a prison and put in the same cell as Valentin Arregui (a solid, if unremarkable Diego Luna), an intense and serious-minded Marxist revolutionary.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near oligarchy
Cite this Entry
“Oligarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oligarchy. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
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