grandees
High-ranking noblemen
Grandees are people of high rank or great importance.
The word originally referred to Spanish or Portuguese nobles of the highest class, but now it typically describes powerful figures in any domain—political grandees, party grandees, corporate grandees.
The term often carries a whiff of irony, suggesting stuffiness or self-importance: The media grandees gathered for their annual summit.
Highest hereditary nobles
- marquessesNobles ranking below dukes
- earlsBritish titled aristocrats
- viscountsNobles below earls
- baronsTitled nobles, lowest rank
counts · countesses · peerage · patricians · bluebloods · gentry · noblemen · aristocrats
Elevated rank or renown
- dignityInnate personal worth
- statusOne's relative position
- distinctionNotable difference or honor
- renownWidespread acclaim and recognition
stature · esteem · honor · veneration · respectability · recognition · notability · illustriousness
Informal power or punch
- swayRock back and forth
- leverageBorrowed capital for amplified returns
- powerEnergy transfer rate
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
dominance · control · ascendancy · supremacy · patronage · pull · networking · connections
dukes
Highest hereditary nobles
- marquessesNobles ranking below dukes
- earlsBritish titled aristocrats
- viscountsNobles below earls
barons · counts · countesses · peerage · patricians · bluebloods · gentry · noblemen · aristocrats · hidalgos
eminence
Elevated rank or renown
- dignityInnate personal worth
- statusOne's relative position
- distinctionNotable difference or honor
renown · stature · esteem · honor · veneration · respectability · recognition · notability · illustriousness · prominence
clout
Informal power or punch
authority · dominance · control · ascendancy · supremacy · patronage · pull · networking · connections · kingmakers
- eliteselites, plutocrats, oligarchs, aristocrats, blue bloods
- nobilityking, queen, prince, princess, duke
- ToriesConservative Party, Tory, Toryism, Thatcherism, Thatcherites
- eliteelite, elites, aristocrats, nobility, best
- Historical Leadersmonarchs, rulers, statesmen, generals, admirals
- VIPscelebrities, superstars, head of state, stars, legend
grandeescommoners
Ordinary citizens, untitled
peasants · plebeians · serfs · common people · the masses
grandeesunderlings
Lower-ranked employees
rank and file · minions · pawns · foot soldiers · functionaries
- delusions of grandeurFalse belief in superiority
- ancient grandeurImpressive old-world splendor