clique
a small, exclusive group of people; coterie; set.
Informal. to form, or associate in, a clique.
Origin of clique
1synonym study For clique
Other words from clique
- clique·less, adjective
- cli·quey, cli·quy, adjective
- cli·quism, noun
- sub·clique, noun
Words that may be confused with clique
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use clique in a sentence
In the town of Hempstead, in Nassau County, there used to be two cliques, Hughes said.
Central American Gang MS-13 Cuts Swath of Murder and Mayhem Across Long Island | Matthew DeLuca | June 3, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTIn YA lit, non-white teens still tend to fight racism and violence more than cliques and phonies.
No matter who reconvenes, it's safe to say that, like rival sororities or high-school cliques, the ladies will remain divided.
Young Judith Blum was never a joiner in school, never popular, never athletic, never part of any cliques.
Of course people “pair” up, there are small cliques here, but not in the way described.
Efforts will be made no doubt to use the new voter for the purposes of cliques and fanatics.
The Hills and the Vale | Richard JefferiesHe faced the situation bravely, and closed his ears to the unworthy squabbles of ambitious cliques.
Byron | Richard EdgcumbeAll rightI saidBut perhaps the great oracle of the cliques will reject your proposals with scorn.
The Sorrows of Satan | Marie CorelliIt has been partly created and wholly fanned into flame by the governing cliques for political reasons.
In their selfish greed the governing cliques of all the little states absolutely disregarded the will of the people of Macedonia.
British Dictionary definitions for clique
/ (kliːk, klɪk) /
a small, exclusive group of friends or associates
Origin of clique
1Derived forms of clique
- cliquish, adjective
- cliquishly, adverb
- cliquishness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse