as in arriviste
one who has recently acquired wealth and social position
having made their money in oil decades ago, they consider these billionaire dot-commers mere upstarts
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of upstart
There’s also a possibility that Orton could face an upstart from NXT.
—
Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
For Mike Cavanaugh, UConn hockey, the moment has arrived
In this in-state rivalry, UConn has long been the underdog, the upstart.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2025
What to watch: Malik, a source said, is eyeing more investments in the finance space, such as a commercial bank or insurance company, to continue to support his portfolio of conservative upstarts.
—Sara Fischer, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025
While Zara has successfully held off competition from new players and online upstarts globally, the U.S. is its second largest market and the tit-for-tat tariff trade wars emerging are clearly front and center of its thoughts right now.
—Mark Faithfull, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
For Mike Cavanaugh, UConn hockey, the moment has arrived
In this in-state rivalry, UConn has long been the underdog, the upstart.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2025
What to watch: Malik, a source said, is eyeing more investments in the finance space, such as a commercial bank or insurance company, to continue to support his portfolio of conservative upstarts.
—Sara Fischer, Axios, 24 Mar. 2025
While Zara has successfully held off competition from new players and online upstarts globally, the U.S. is its second largest market and the tit-for-tat tariff trade wars emerging are clearly front and center of its thoughts right now.
—Mark Faithfull, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upstart
Noun
-
Where’s our charming arriviste?—
Jason Gay,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2020
-
Compared with some of her peers, she was initially seen as an arriviste.—
Caitlin Moscatello,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2023
Noun
-
In 1952, backed by little more than his reputation as a war hero and a fortune staked by his parvenu father, 35-year-old John F. Kennedy swiped a Senate seat from Republican Henry Cabot Lodge, himself a wealthy combat veteran.—
Kevin Mahnken,
The New Republic,
1 Sep. 2020
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Raveendran, at least on paper, assumes his place among those parvenus thanks to his effort in internet education.—
Saritha Rai,
Fortune,
29 July 2019
Noun
-
Even for adult adventurers, that type of knowledge is often hard-won over the course of many seasons—and sometimes close calls—in the mountains.—
Zoe Gates,
Outside Online,
27 Apr. 2025
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The Federal Aviation Administration has also given out commercial astronaut wings to private-sector adventurers who reached higher than 81 kilometers (50 miles).—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The prince’s daughter Concetta is initially enamored of Tancredi, but his eye is caught by the beautiful Angelica, daughter of vulgar nouveau riche neighbor Don Calogero.—
Anthony Paletta,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
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In Rivals, Dyer plays a complex, nouveau riche tech entrepreneur who strikes up an unlikely romance with local author Lizzie (Katherine Parkinson).—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Upstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upstart. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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