1
as in delegate
a person who acts or does business for another
a representative from the car dealership called to ask how we were enjoying the new car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ambassador
a person sent on a mission to represent another
I speak on this matter as a representative of the people of the U.S.
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in example
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like
this song is a fairly good representative of the other songs on the album
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in typical
having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind
a representative example of what that talented chef can do with even simple ingredients
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in symbolic
having the function or meaning of an object or figure that stands for something else
a red cross on this map is representative of a hospital or other medical facility
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 representative
Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Before winning the 2024 election to be the 18th district’s congressional representative, Turner was mayor of Houston from 2016 to 2024.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2025
Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
The French Revolution of 1789 had many causes—political, ideological, economic, and social—yet in its early phases, many people were optimistic about forming a new representative government based on meritocracy and leaving behind an absolutist polity and hierarchical class structures.
—Time, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for representative
Noun
Unofficial voting results show that Curt Skoog and Melissa Cheatham kept their seats as mayor and the representatives for Ward 2.
—Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Before winning the 2024 election to be the 18th district’s congressional representative, Turner was mayor of Houston from 2016 to 2024.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
What To Know PayPal’s nationally representative poll gathered responses from 1,000 American adults in early September.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
The French Revolution of 1789 had many causes—political, ideological, economic, and social—yet in its early phases, many people were optimistic about forming a new representative government based on meritocracy and leaving behind an absolutist polity and hierarchical class structures.
—Time, 21 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for representative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for representative
Noun
-
This is why the delegates translated it into multiple languages immediately and sent copies intended for King Louis XVI of France and King Carlos III of Spain on the first ship bound for Europe on July 8.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The advisory board will consist of up to two delegates from each club, including investors, cultural leaders and sports legends.—
Jessica Golden,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Carved into 50,000 carats of jewels, the aquamarine became a global ambassador for Brazilian craftsmanship, cementing both the country’s reputation for fine gems and Sauer’s name in the industry.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
2 Nov. 2025
-
But Nigeria does not currently have an ambassador or high profile special envoy to have helped get ahead of this.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
For example, a government notice earlier this year referenced a construction project in Shaanxi province belonging to the CASC 4th Academy, which is widely known as the main contractor for solid-fuel rockets.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Benjamin Franklin, for example, worked tirelessly over the eight years between 1775 and 1783 to kindle the civil war within the British Empire into a worldwide blaze.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The Midea Flexify Air Fryer isn’t your typical air fryer.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Nearby Leyte and northern parts of Mindanao, both populous islands in the center of the country, saw between 150 and 250 mm (6 to 10 inches) of rain in only 24 hours — well above the typical monthly rainfall for November.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
These motifs take on a symbolic value, according to Sejko, and suggest the loneliness and isolation of power.—
Will Tizard,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
-
That Xi did not meet Trump until this late in his term is also symbolic.—
Kerry Brown,
Time,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The impact of the storm was worsened by clogged waterways in an already flood-prone area, and an apparent lack of understanding of early warnings, Bernardo Rafaelito Alejandro IV, deputy administrator for the Philippines Office of Civil Defense told local media.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Darbin Wofford, deputy director of health care for the centrist Democratic group Third Way, said even if there’s an agreement that reopens the government without a subsidy extension, Republicans already own the consequences.—
Nathaniel Weixel,
The Hill,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
In the 2000s, Andrew was repeatedly accused of misusing his position as a British trade envoy for his personal advantage.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Kirill Dmitriev, an investment envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggested in posts on Musk's social media platform X that the project would be partly funded by Moscow.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
In total, the researchers analyzed 357 contemporary mosquitoes and 22 historical specimens, and used additional mosquito samples from a separate study, which beefed up the overall count to about 800.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), a national database that collects emergency department injury data from a representative sample of about 100 American hospitals, the researchers applied statistical weighting to estimate national injury rates.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Representative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/representative. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share