Definition of parvenunext
as in arriviste
one who has recently acquired wealth and social position the kind of trophy house that a parvenu buys to prove to people, and to himself, that he has indeed arrived

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 parvenu Spurrier, who predominantly sold French vintages, wasn’t expecting anything other than a trouncing for the parvenu. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 25 May 2026 Raveendran, at least on paper, assumes his place among those parvenus thanks to his effort in internet education. — Saritha Rai, Fortune, 29 July 2019 Well, rejecting the pretensions of the peacocking parvenu is one of the sweetest pleasures left to the fallen aristocrat. — Lili Anolik, Vanities, 19 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for parvenu
Noun
  • Charm is what turns the arriviste’s effort into a social gift.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
  • And yet, the digital arrivistes could only gain so much traction with a broader customer base and needed a boost from tie-ins with old-school counterparts.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • How many times during the Nick Saban years did an SEC upstart emerge, then get dismissed by the Tide?
    — Jason Kirk, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Nielsen and a bevy of rival upstarts are all working to find new ways to capture all types of viewing.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • And all of this comes on the heels of the glitzy opening of the Six Senses Crans-Montana ski-in, ski-out resort, and the nouveau riche crowd that comes with it.
    — Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes.com, 4 May 2026
  • Vandelli thinks Stilley is nouveau riche; Stilley thinks Vandelli is a bully.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Noun
  • At night, the bed measures in a few square inches shy of a queen at 58 x 76-in (147 x 193-cm), comfortably sleeping two people or a solo adventurer hellbent on escaping everything and everyone.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In 1754, Pennsylvania adventurer Arthur Buchanan bought 200 acres in an Indian village from a Lenape chief.
    — Scott Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Parvenu.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/parvenu. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster