as in dean
the senior member of a group
the elder statesman of the White House correspondents is finally retiring after nearly a half century of service
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of elder statesman
Best Primetime Kits Novak Djokovic: Lacoste Novak Djokovic looked the part of tennis’ elder statesman in his black Lacoste kit paired with his signature Court FF 3 Novak Night Energy shoes from Asics.
—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The Lakers will reportedly host two of the league’s elder statesmen in a pair of their 2025-26 marquee matchups.
—Khobi Price, Oc Register, 8 Aug. 2025
His passing also removes a key elder statesman from Nigeria's political landscape at a time when the country continues grappling with security challenges, economic instability, and corruption issues that defined much of his tenure.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
Much of the heart and comedy in the film comes from the dynamic between Williamson and McDonough, as the two elder statesmen reunite for the bull riding event against significantly younger competition.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for elder statesman
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2025
The Lakers will reportedly host two of the league’s elder statesmen in a pair of their 2025-26 marquee matchups.
—Khobi Price, Oc Register, 8 Aug. 2025
His passing also removes a key elder statesman from Nigeria's political landscape at a time when the country continues grappling with security challenges, economic instability, and corruption issues that defined much of his tenure.
—Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 July 2025
Much of the heart and comedy in the film comes from the dynamic between Williamson and McDonough, as the two elder statesmen reunite for the bull riding event against significantly younger competition.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for elder statesman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for elder statesman
Noun
-
Amaney Jamal, dean of the Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs, said Mamdani's political rise is breaking the ceiling for other Muslims in many ways.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Chung, the former university dean, said there are virtually no chances for North Korea to give up its nuclear program.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The monastery is central to the story, and its elder—named Zosima in the novel—comforts a woman who has lost her child, aged two years and nine months, with words that echo those uttered by Ambrose.—
Karl Ove Knausgaard,
New Yorker,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Their flowers, red, rose above the courtyard and the divan where the village elders met, over the ten balconies and the stairway windows.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Two veteran data journalists are launching a new investigative publication to cover rising authoritarianism from the shadowy corners of the internet.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Under the command of the unflappable Ernest McSorley, its veteran captain, the Fitz broke shipping records and tallied enormous profits.—
Kevin Duchschere,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Elder statesman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elder%20statesman. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share