as in elder statesman
the senior member of a group
the revered éminence grise of Civil War historians
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Recent Examples of éminence grise
But none have matched JPMorgan, which, under the leadership of Wall Street’s eminence grise Jamie Dimon, has thrived.
—
Paolo Confino, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2024
Belafonte was 57, an eminence grise in entertainment, and his participation motivated lots of artists who admired him.
—Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024
Federer serving in the Sinatra/Clooney part as the eminence grise.
—Jason Gay, WSJ, 24 Sep. 2022
That emotionally astute author, the eminence grise, the institutional memory.
—Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2021
Matthews is an eminence grise of television news, his pugilistic and red-cheeked persona familiar to viewers from countless election nights.
—BostonGlobe.com, 2 Mar. 2020
In the world of the candle obsessed, Diptyque is the eminence grise.
—Kathleen Hou, The Cut, 16 Jan. 2018
Paolo Confino, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2024
Belafonte was 57, an eminence grise in entertainment, and his participation motivated lots of artists who admired him.
—Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024
Federer serving in the Sinatra/Clooney part as the eminence grise.
—Jason Gay, WSJ, 24 Sep. 2022
That emotionally astute author, the eminence grise, the institutional memory.
—Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2021
Matthews is an eminence grise of television news, his pugilistic and red-cheeked persona familiar to viewers from countless election nights.
—BostonGlobe.com, 2 Mar. 2020
In the world of the candle obsessed, Diptyque is the eminence grise.
—Kathleen Hou, The Cut, 16 Jan. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for éminence grise
Noun
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Here are the highlights: Steve Martin monologue Another way this special cribbed from the 40th-anniversary playbook is by bringing back SNL elder statesman Steve Martin for the monologue.—
Joe Berkowitz,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2025
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Last season, with elder statesmen like Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander no longer in the clubhouse, Lindor and Brandon Nimmo took the reins as veteran leaders.—
Tim Britton,
The Athletic,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The reporter asked if Mr. Trump is considering what the administration can do to help those veterans salvage their lives.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Stafford and the Rams agreed to a contract adjustment on Friday, ending several weeks of speculation about the 16-year veteran’s future.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The dean of the Kennedy School issued a statement distancing himself from the talk.—
Nathan Heller,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
-
Cardinal Re picked to lead prayer vigil on Wednesday The dean of the College of Cardinals, meanwhile, was designated to lead the Vatican’s prayer vigil in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday night, thrusting a key figure in any future possible conclave into the spotlight.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
There's a child, someone middle-aged, and an elder in the painting.—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
25 Feb. 2025
-
With its local connection and timely message of turning a listening ear to elders, the film’s screening—happening Saturday, February 22—is already sold out.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
20 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“éminence grise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/%C3%A9minence%20grise. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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