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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Recent Examples of upstart
The captaincy tag had appeared to shake him from a foul mood that has festered as the series has worn on exacerbated by the youthful exuberance of brash upstart Sam Konstas, who has really gotten under his skin.
—
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Picked up by upstart awards powerhouse A24, the film has generated a lot of attention in advance of its limited release on Friday, with special 70mm engagements already happening.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
While an upstart union, the Amazon Labor Union won such a vote at Amazon’s Staten Island facility in April 2022.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
However Belfield, citing the immense worldwide popularity of the English soccer club Manchester United versus the recent dynastic run of archrival Manchester City, said fans of those upstart teams shouldn’t care who sells more merchandise.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 11 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for upstart 
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Picked up by upstart awards powerhouse A24, the film has generated a lot of attention in advance of its limited release on Friday, with special 70mm engagements already happening.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024
While an upstart union, the Amazon Labor Union won such a vote at Amazon’s Staten Island facility in April 2022.
—Chris Isidore, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024
However Belfield, citing the immense worldwide popularity of the English soccer club Manchester United versus the recent dynastic run of archrival Manchester City, said fans of those upstart teams shouldn’t care who sells more merchandise.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 11 Dec. 2024
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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Giacomo Casanova, who lived from 1725 to 1798, was a lawyer, a writer, an adventurer, a gambler and a scoundrel who found himself on the wrong side of the law.—
Ray Mark Rinaldi,
The Denver Post,
20 Jan. 2025
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Fireproof Lockbox $19 at Amazon Keeping your valuables safe is a need for all travelers, and this option is great for solo adventurers who pack light or want to keep their items on hand.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Advertisement Who does Johnson consider nouveau riche?—
Ben Bolch,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Dec. 2024
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The central question of whether love can conquer money is almost outshone by the film’s dazzling surroundings and Rachel’s nouveau riche friends, played perfectly by Awkwafina and Ken Jeong.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
10 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near upstart
Cite this Entry
“Upstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upstart. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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