ÉMINENCE GRISE Synonyms: 31 Similar and Opposite Words

éminence grise

noun

ā-mē-näⁿs-ˈgrēz

Definition of éminence grise

as in elder statesman

the senior member of a group the revered éminence grise of Civil War historians

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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 éminence grise But none have matched JPMorgan, which, under the leadership of Wall Street’s eminence grise Jamie Dimon, has thrived. — Paolo Confino, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2024 Belafonte was 57, an eminence grise in entertainment, and his participation motivated lots of artists who admired him. — Rob Tannenbaum, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2024 Federer serving in the Sinatra/Clooney part as the eminence grise. — Jason Gay, WSJ, 24 Sep. 2022 That emotionally astute author, the eminence grise, the institutional memory. — Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2021 In the world of the candle obsessed, Diptyque is the eminence grise. — Kathleen Hou, The Cut, 16 Jan. 2018

Recent Examples of Synonyms for éminence grise

Noun

Yesterday’s punk, grunge, and rebel-outsider upstarts have an uncanny way of evolving into today’s elder statesmen of respectable infamy.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 17 Aug. 2026
The squad’s elder statesmen set standards on the pitch and in the dressing room to help their more junior colleagues along their journey.

— Andy Naylor, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of elder statesman

Noun

Then Kreiz took the mallet and landed a cannon-shot ring on the bell that was so loud that one of the Citadel traders turned around in shock, and even Wall Street veteran Gerry Cardinale’s eyebrows were raised.

— Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 12 Oct. 2026
Seiber, 40, was a father of two and an Air Force veteran who served 10 years with the Philadelphia Police Department.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of veteran

Noun

Luis Antonio Tagle, 69, a Filipino cardinal, was appointed by Pope Leo XIV as the new dean of the College of Cardinals, elevating his profile as a papal contender in the process.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
The dean of students said her office was investigating fraternities over allegations of physical assault, hazing and drug use.

— Amy B Wang, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of dean

Noun

If that doesn’t sound heady enough, Neon also has Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s All of a Sudden, a three-hour movie about the practical application of the Humanitude methodology in a French elder-care facility.

— Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
This could’ve been a story of seasoned elders welcoming a new voice into their fold.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of elder

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eminence

éminence grise

eminences

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“éminence grise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/%C3%A9minence%20grise. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of éminence grise

noun

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