princeling
Small-time heir
A princeling is a young prince, or more often, a minor or insignificant one—a prince of a small territory or with little real power.
The diminutive suffix carries condescension: The country was divided among squabbling princelings.
In modern use, princeling often describes children of powerful figures who inherit privilege without merit, especially the offspring of Chinese Communist Party elites.
One who receives legacy
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- crownSovereign's ornamental headpiece
- successionFollowing in order
lineage · aristocracy · nobility · duke · monarch · regent · courtier · palace
Scale with lowered third
- pettyOf little importance
- small-timeOf little significance
- insignificantLacking importance or consequence
- lesserLower in degree
subordinate · junior · upstart · pretender · wannabe · aspirant · ambitious · overreaching
Having rightful claim
- arrogantExcessively high self-regard
- spoiledRuined or overindulged
- pamperedLavished with indulgence
- privilegedHaving special advantages
condescending · haughty · snobbish · imperious · overbearing · presumptuous · smug · self-important
Controlled performing figure
- titularIn title only
- nominalIn designation only
- ceremonialRelating to formal rites
- symbolicRepresenting through signs
token · proxy · frontman · mouthpiece · façade · ornamental · powerless · ineffectual
heir
One who receives legacy
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
- throneCeremonial chair for sovereigns
- crownSovereign's ornamental headpiece
succession · lineage · aristocracy · nobility · duke · monarch · regent · courtier · palace · kingdom
minor
Scale with lowered third
- pettyOf little importance
- small-timeOf little significance
- insignificantLacking importance or consequence
lesser · subordinate · junior · upstart · pretender · wannabe · aspirant · ambitious · overreaching · undeserving
entitled
Having rightful claim
privileged · condescending · haughty · snobbish · imperious · overbearing · presumptuous · smug · self-important · bratty
puppet
Controlled performing figure
- titularIn title only
- nominalIn designation only
- ceremonialRelating to formal rites
symbolic · token · proxy · frontman · mouthpiece · façade · ornamental · powerless · ineffectual · placeholder
authority
Power to enforce obedience
rule · command · governance · fiefdom · domain · clout · sway · patronage · nepotism · cronyism
- princesheir apparent, dauphin, firstborn son, royal heir, second son
- royal titlesqueen, king, emperor, empress, duke
- royal childrenheir, heir apparent, heir presumptive, royal baby, dauphin
- nobilityking, queen, duke, duchess, baron
- rulersmonarch, Caesar, ruler, sovereign, emperor
princelingemperor
Male ruler of empire
monarch · king · sovereign · supreme ruler · ruler
princelinggreat king
Powerful royal ruler
statesman · titan · giant · towering figure · great leader