social climber
noun
: one who attempts to gain a higher social position or acceptance in fashionable society
social climbing
noun
Examples of social climber in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Where Huang’s wardrobe for Oz emphasizes his position as a clumsy social climber, aspiring to classic mafia masculinity but too crass to fit in with the old-money elite, Sofia represents a different kind of outsider.
—
Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Smith starred as Joyce Chilvers, a small-town social climber in postwar Northern England whose hunger to be accepted by the elite locals isn’t helped by her dotty mother nor her underachieving podiatrist husband Gilbert, played by Michael Palin.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2024
Turning Merchant Ivory into eminent Victorians rather than complexly conflicted social climbers actually distances them from us, and that’s merely for Millennial convenience.
—Armond White, National Review, 4 Sep. 2024
The sprawling period drama chronicles the great conflict between old money elites and new money social climbers in New York's glittering Gilded Age.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for social climber 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Smith starred as Joyce Chilvers, a small-town social climber in postwar Northern England whose hunger to be accepted by the elite locals isn’t helped by her dotty mother nor her underachieving podiatrist husband Gilbert, played by Michael Palin.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Sep. 2024
Turning Merchant Ivory into eminent Victorians rather than complexly conflicted social climbers actually distances them from us, and that’s merely for Millennial convenience.
—Armond White, National Review, 4 Sep. 2024
The sprawling period drama chronicles the great conflict between old money elites and new money social climbers in New York's glittering Gilded Age.
—Shania Russell, EW.com, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for social climber
Dictionary Entries Near social climber
Cite this Entry
“Social climber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/social%20climber. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share