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
-
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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Lindo was set to play Dominic Fortune, a rogue adventurer aiding Adrianne Palicki's Bobbi Morse and Nick Blood's Lance Hunter from the mothership show.—
Nick Romano,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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This ample space is designed to make all types of travelers, from solo adventurers to large families, feel comfortable and at home.—
Ronny Maye,
Forbes.com,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Upstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upstart. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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