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
Ohio State improved to 2-1 in top-five matchups and showed everybody’s favorite upstart — at least everybody outside of SEC country — what life is like at the top of the food chain.
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Ralph D. Russo, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
Competition has also been mounting in the form of more online upstarts.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Daniel Nigro knew there was something special about Chappell Roan, a young upstart who had just moved to Los Angeles from Missouri, during their first meeting in 2018.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024
The fancy new facelift is the result of a partnership with the Craft Irish Whiskey Company—a four-year-old upstart that has exploded upon the ultra-luxe spirits scene, compiling more top industry accolades more rapidly than any other brand in the modern era.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for upstart 
Ralph D. Russo, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
Competition has also been mounting in the form of more online upstarts.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
Daniel Nigro knew there was something special about Chappell Roan, a young upstart who had just moved to Los Angeles from Missouri, during their first meeting in 2018.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024
The fancy new facelift is the result of a partnership with the Craft Irish Whiskey Company—a four-year-old upstart that has exploded upon the ultra-luxe spirits scene, compiling more top industry accolades more rapidly than any other brand in the modern era.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes, 2 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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Along for the ride will be fellow adventurers Eric Philips of Australia, Jannicke Mikkelsen of Norway and Rabea Rogge of Germany.Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 23 Dec. 2024
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The character's gray face with recognizable texture teases that adventurer Rex Mason has already been transformed by a radioactive meteorite into a being that can change his body into elemental compounds.Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024
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
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Cite this Entry
“Upstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upstart. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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