clans

noun

plural of clan
1
as in communities
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially that clan of football fans has parties every weekend on which the New England Patriots play

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tribes
a group of persons who come from the same ancestor the whole clan gets together only for holidays

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 clans Ali Mahmoud Ali, the group's Sudan analyst, said that the latest clashes risk bringing in more Nuba clans into the fight and could increase divisions across South Kordofan, where communities are facing an already dire humanitarian situation. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 All Palestinian clans and families in Gaza would also be a target for disarmament, which would have an impact on the future of Hamas and Palestinian armed struggle. — Mkhaimar Abusada, The Conversation, 6 Aug. 2026 Scores attach to a profile, clans compete by country, challenges travel between friends. — Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Various Maji clans such as the Omi Clan, or Maji of Water, and Ikú Clan, or Maji of Life and Death, practice different forms of magic, with Omi Tiders wielding waves and Ikù Reapers, like Zelie’s mother, summoning souls. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 28 July 2026 Her homeland, the kingdom of Orisha, is divided into clans with different magical abilities. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 28 July 2026 The 18-hole golf course is lined with tribal history, each hole named for clans, villages, allies, medicines and symbols, filled with vibrant greenery, waterways and trees, the course's website noted. — Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 27 July 2026 The event consists of live music, competition events such as highland dancing and sheepdog trials, food vendors and educational classes on what Scottish clans are. — Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026 Publishers Coolabi Group and Chinese online giant Tencent Video have greenlit the series, adapted from Erin Hunter’s novels about battling clans of feral cats, which have sold more than 90 million copies worldwide. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clans
  1. communities
  2. tribes
  3. networks
  4. families
  5. cliques
  6. houses
  7. crowds
  8. circles
Noun
  • Like every Lucy project, there are also swing-for-the-fences samples, of the kinds of old, viral songs that create communities of nostalgic yearners in their YouTube comments.
    — H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Working with creators, brands and communities to develop new experiences, sponsorships and brand partnerships.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of communities
Noun
  • Upwards of 100 people turned up, including members of distant sister tribes.
    — Ryan Devereaux, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2026
  • That growth has fueled disputes with states and Native American tribes over regulatory authority, while drawing scrutiny from sports leagues over game integrity and from advocates who say the platforms’ accessibility increases the risk of addiction.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of tribes
Noun
  • Recent Russian targets have included energy systems, key industries, railways, post offices, shopping centers, telecom networks, gas stations and grain exports.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Both institutions have reaffirmed their commitment to advancing fashion education and industry development, while fostering stronger connections between academic institutions, the fashion industry, and international networks.
    — Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of networks
Noun
  • Standard rooms might be a tight squeeze for groups of three or more, but everything from a junior suite and up can accommodate families well.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The Chicago archdiocese recognized Rubey's work this year by dedicating in his honor a memorial to the lives lost to suicide and their surviving families.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of families
Noun
  • So the players will get a day off to cool down but have to spend the night at the pub quiz in teams of Ted’s choosing, never mind the cliques.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Amid the crushes, cliques, and teenage angst, two sisters set out to define themselves on their own terms.
    — Denise Petski, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of cliques
Noun
  • Since at least the 1970s and 1980s, there have been incidents of gang rape of intoxicated, incapacitated women in fraternity houses.
    — Richard Hall, Time, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Hyatt transformed the resort with six new buildings, including additional guest houses; all 117 rooms have also been overhauled, and there is a new pool as well as tons of new activities and programs.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of houses
Noun
  • One year after its opening, The Louis, its Shanghai megastore shaped like a cruise ship, continues to draw crowds.
    — Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Trump has largely steered clear of political battlegrounds in his travels so far, focusing on red states and friendly crowds at a moment when Republicans worry that his unpopularity could drag down the party.
    — Sagar Meghani, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of crowds
Noun
  • The American Medical Association recommends chin tucks, gentle neck rotations and half-neck circles during the day.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Photos of him at campus barbecues or strolling the neighborhood proliferate student social media circles.
    — Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of circles

Browse Nearby Words

clannish
clans
clansman
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Cite this Entry

“Clans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clans. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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