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
The Razorbacks hardly look like an upstart, though, boasting immense positional size (18th nationally in average height, per KenPom).
—
Jim Root, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Lately, upstart companies have been trying to distinguish themselves on the white-pouch market.
—Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Sublicensing deals, such as the one with DAZN, have emerged as one pillar of that strategy, alongside strategic deals for upstarts like Unrivaled.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2025
Cartel bosses are breathing down his neck and a young upstart has been posing as the new guy in town eager to purchase the club.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
Jim Root, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Lately, upstart companies have been trying to distinguish themselves on the white-pouch market.
—Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
Sublicensing deals, such as the one with DAZN, have emerged as one pillar of that strategy, alongside strategic deals for upstarts like Unrivaled.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Mar. 2025
Cartel bosses are breathing down his neck and a young upstart has been posing as the new guy in town eager to purchase the club.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for upstart
Noun
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Where’s our charming arriviste?—
Jason Gay,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2020
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Compared with some of her peers, she was initially seen as an arriviste.—
Caitlin Moscatello,
New York Times,
3 Mar. 2023
Noun
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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
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Here are five additional pairs of shoes that also provide support for plus-size adventurers.—
Robin Raven,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Apr. 2025
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Along for the ride will be fellow adventurers Eric Philips of Australia, Jannicke Mikkelsen of Norway and Rabea Rogge of Germany.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The battle of the nouveau riche could just as easily be referred to as the Oil Firm.—
Darren Richman,
The Athletic,
21 Jan. 2025
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Advertisement Who does Johnson consider nouveau riche?—
Ben Bolch,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Upstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upstart. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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