Then the younger brother set off, and the elder remained behind.
Source: tatoeba (43029)
Elder
/ˈeldə/
Synonyms for "elder" (353 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (71)
aaronic priesthoodacolyteagealdermanalmoneranagnostancestorsancientantecedentantecedentsantediluviananterioranticipatoryantiqueapostlearchonascendantsauthorityback numberbailie
Show 46 more words
baronbeadlebedralbetterbible clerkbible readerbig gunbig manbig namebigwigbishopbossbrassbrass hatburghermasterburgomasterbwanacabinet membercabinet ministercaducitycapitularcapitularycelebritycentenarianchancellorchefchiefchoir chaplainchurch dignitarychurchwardenci-devantcity councilmancity fathercity managerclerkcommissarcommissionerconservativecouncillorcouncilmancouncilwomancounty commissionercounty supervisordaddeacondeaconess
Adjective(3 words)
Strong matches (106)
deandignitarydignitydoctordododotarddoyendoyenneearlierearlyebonyecclesiarchelder statesmanelderlinesseldermanelderseldestemployerestablishmentexperienced
Show 72 more words
fatherfather timefathersfigurefirstfirst-bornfirstlingfogyforeforebearsforefathersforegoingformerfossilfudfuddy duddyfuddy-duddygaffergeezergolden-agergoodmangrampsgrandfathergrandfathersgrandparentsgrandsiregrannygraybeardgreatgreat mangreat soulguruhas beenhas-beenheadmanhigh priesthusbandilluminateimportant personindunaintellectintellectualinterestslay elderlay readerlectorlecturerlegislatorliegeliege lordlionlonghairlordlord mayorlord paramountlords of creationlover of wisdommagistratemagnatemahatmamairemajorman of intellectman of markman of wisdommandarinmastermastermindmatriarchmayormelchizedek priesthoodmentor
Noun(13 words)
eldelderberry bushelderly personeldonforerunnergranddadgrandpagrandparentgrandpasgraybeardsgreybackguideleader
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (176)
methuselahmid victorianmid-victorianministerminister of statemogulmossbacknabobnamenestornonagenariannotabilitynotableoakoctogenarianold ageold believerold chapold codgerold crock
Show 122 more words
old dodoold dogold dufferold fogyold geezerold gentold gentlemanold linerold manold paarold partyold poopold timerold womanold-timerolderoldestoldsteroracleoverlordpadronepanjandrumpantaloonparamountparish clerkpaterfamiliaspatriarchpatriarchspatronperson of renownpersonagepersonalityphilosopherpillar of societypoppopsportreevepowerpower eliteprecedingprecentorprecurrentpredecessorspreexistentpresbyterpreviouspriestprimeprimogenitarypriorprogenitorsrabbireactionaryreaderreeveregular old fogyrelicrespectedrishiruling circleruling eldersachemsacristsacristansagesahibsapientsavantscholarsecretarysecretary of stateseerseigneurseigniorselectmansenectitudesenescenceseniorsenior citizenseptuagenarianseventysexagenariansextonshamesshrubsidesmansiresomebodysomethingsquarestaretssuccentorsuissesuperiorsupervisorsyndicteacherteaching elderthe greatthe quiet-voiced eldersthe topthinkerthurifertoptop brasstop peopletraditionalisttreetycoonundersecretaryvenerablevenerable sirvergervergeressvery important personveteranvipwardenwise manwise old manworthyyears
Noun(29 words)
Verb(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: senior, aaronic priesthood, acolyte, age, aged people.
- Sentence evidence is available for elder, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "elder".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "elder"
Keep "elder" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "elder" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "elder", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "elder" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
13 entriesMore specific
11 entriesCollocations
9 entrieselder careelder councilelder figureelder generationelder memberelder sisterelder statesmanelder statusvillage elder
Inflections
4 entriesDerivations
4 entriessimilar
1 entriesTranslations
6 translations across 6 languages.
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 長老 /长老 noun (Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority)
Finnish
1 entries- vanhin noun (Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority)
German
1 entries- Elder noun (Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority)
Japanese
1 entries- 長老 noun (Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority)
Russian
1 entries- старе́йшина noun (Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority)
Swahili
1 entries- mzee noun (Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority)
Sample sentences
29 total sentences available.
John's mother looks so young that she is often mistaken for his elder sister.
Source: tatoeba (52753)
Ken shared the room with his elder brother.
Source: tatoeba (62481)
You seem to have mistaken me for my elder brother.
Source: tatoeba (69298)
Showing 4 of 29 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "elder"?
Closest matches include senior, aaronic priesthood, acolyte, age, aged people.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "elder"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.