coterie
Tight social cluster
A coterie is a small, exclusive group of people who share interests or activities and associate closely with one another.
The word carries a slight whiff of snobbery or cliquishness: a coterie of intellectuals, the director's coterie of favorites.
Unlike a casual friend group, a coterie suggests insiders who may look down on outsiders.
Exclusive social group
- circleCurved closed shape
- crewWorking team aboard
- clubOrganization with membership
- crowdLarge public gathering
entourage · retinue · cabal · cadre · faction · set · ring · clan
Sharing similar opinions
- affinityNatural liking or attraction
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- enthusiastsPeople deeply into something
- devoteesPassionate adherents
aficionados · connoisseurs · cognoscenti · literati · intelligentsia · glitterati · avant-garde · bohemians
Trusted secret-keepers
- trustedEarned belief in
- close-knitStrongly united group
- loyalFirm in allegiance
- devotedLoyally and lovingly attached
tight · familiar · bonded · cherished · insiders · kindred · allies · compatriots
Excluding those outside one's group
- insularNarrow in outlook
- clannishExclusionary toward outsiders
- selectiveChoosing with care
- closedNot accessible now
restricted · private · elite · elitist · tight-knit · impenetrable · exclusionary · guarded
Rule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- jet-setWealthy international travelers
- establishmentFounded organization or venue
- upper-crustSocial elite class
bluebloods · power-brokers · influencers · privileged · connected · well-connected · influential · prestigious
clique
Exclusive social group
crowd · entourage · retinue · cabal · cadre · faction · set · ring · clan · tribe
like-minded
Sharing similar opinions
- affinityNatural liking or attraction
- fellowshipMutual goodwill among companions
- enthusiastsPeople deeply into something
devotees · aficionados · connoisseurs · cognoscenti · literati · intelligentsia · glitterati · avant-garde · bohemians · aesthetes
confidants
Trusted secret-keepers
- trustedEarned belief in
- close-knitStrongly united group
- loyalFirm in allegiance
devoted · tight · familiar · bonded · cherished · insiders · kindred · allies · compatriots
cliquish
Excluding those outside one's group
closed · restricted · private · elite · elitist · tight-knit · impenetrable · exclusionary · guarded · inaccessible
aristocracy
Rule by hereditary elite
- nobilityTitled ruling class
- jet-setWealthy international travelers
- establishmentFounded organization or venue
upper-crust · bluebloods · power-brokers · influencers · privileged · connected · well-connected · influential · prestigious
- groupsteam, teams, group, club, clubs
- friend groupssquad, crew, posse, clique, gang
- cliquesclique, in-crowd, in-group, inner circle, cool kids
- inner circlesinner circle, inner ring, inner sanctum, in-group, ingroup
- Literary CirclesBloomsbury Group, Harlem Renaissance, Beat Generation, Lost Generation, salon
- Literary Groupswriting group, writers group, poetry circle, writing circle, writers workshop
coteriethe masses
Common populace collectively
everyone · everybody · hoi polloi · the common people · mainstream