1
as in department
a large unit of a governmental, business, or educational organization
the federal agency charged with enforcing laws and regulations regarding the use of firearms
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in agent
something used to achieve an end
by what agency do you plan to acquire this fortune?
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 agency
That flexibility would be extra useful this offseason, with two teams nabbing players in the expansion draft and most veterans hitting some form of free agency following the signing of a new collective bargaining agreement.
—
Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Guest speaker Kim Thorner, general manager of Olivenhain Municipal Water District will discuss special agencies and exciting issues facing the water sector.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
Around Earth, the agency plans to test docking procedures between its Orion spacecraft and the lunar landers that will carry astronauts from the moon’s orbit down to its surface.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
The same day, the agency interviews Aylesworth for two hours, according to her attorney.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agency
Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Guest speaker Kim Thorner, general manager of Olivenhain Municipal Water District will discuss special agencies and exciting issues facing the water sector.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2026
Around Earth, the agency plans to test docking procedures between its Orion spacecraft and the lunar landers that will carry astronauts from the moon’s orbit down to its surface.
—Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026
The same day, the agency interviews Aylesworth for two hours, according to her attorney.
—Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agency
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agency
Noun
-
The department is now pushing for licensure and regulation, saying there are more than 400 ABA facilities in Colorado.—
Shaun Boyd,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Tan was alluding to accusations and suspicions — which have been denied by the city and police department — about the ALPR data being accessed by federal authorities and immigrations agents in violation of state law and Santa Clara County’s sanctuary policy.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The center said throughout all of this, Rahman faced mistreatment, was mocked by federal agents for her disabilities and was denied medical care.—
Maria Lisignoli,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Heinecke hired an agent and participated in the Senior Bowl, Oklahoma's pro day and NFL scouting combine while trying to gain college eligibility.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
On Tuesday, the bureau announced a plan to release more water from Keswick Dam into the Sacramento River.—
Chaewon Chung
April 12,
Sacbee.com,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Amidi, a member of the political bureau of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan party, beat out a roster of candidates that included Iraq’s current Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, who was the pick of the rival Kurdistan Democratic Party.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
They are left wielding the tools of instrumentality: in-groups and cliques, buying effort through more money, coercive employment agreements and suits against whistleblowers.—
Dave Winsborough,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
-
Holding the weight of cotton’s influence on the world, and thus the instrumentality of Black labor, is painful, yet necessary work.—
Cierra Black,
Essence,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
The Israeli prime minister’s office did not immediately respond for comment, which was posted before dawn in Israel and Lebanon.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
According to a statement from the prime minister's office, Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi received Sharif upon his arrival in Doha on Thursday.—
April 16,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
California is not unique, and housing is not the only means by which the older generations have effectively pulled up the ladder behind them.—
Idrees Kahloon,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Which is fortunate for Musselman, given there will be less means to lure players from the portal.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The regional agency manages payroll services for more than 150,000 employees across 100 school districts, community colleges and charter schools in Los Angeles County, according to its website.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Their goal was to limit reductions in services and avoid being forced to lay off at least 400 city workers.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Based out of Fort Lauderdale, Brown travels east to west every week in his 18-wheeler, often driving up to 11-hour shifts and eating in his vehicle to stay on schedule.—
David Williams,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Apr. 2026
-
In America, more than five thousand people are killed each year in accidents involving large trucks, and the victims tend to be occupants of smaller vehicles.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agency.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agency. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
