Bigwigs exploited a rising tide (11)

I believe the answer is:

dignitaries

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'bigwigs' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being plural nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'exploited a rising tide' is the wordplay.
'exploited' indicates an anagram.
'a'+'rising'+'tide'='arisingtide'
'arisingtide' is an anagram of 'DIGNITARIES'.

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I've seen this clue in The Times.

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