agent

noun

ˈā-jənt How to pronounce agent (audio)
Definition of agentnext
1
as in instrumentality
something used to achieve an end the whitening agent in the detergent is chlorine bleach the Church has been the traditional agent for social justice in impoverished countries

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2
as in deputy
a person who acts or does business for another the sports agent negotiated a record-breaking contract for the baseball player

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3
as in ambassador
a person sent on a mission to represent another an undercover agent of the Crown

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4
as in spy
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country an agent feeding information about enemy troop movements

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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 agent Until today, human scientists have been the agents responsible for discovering cancer cures, and for doing so they (and key associates) have been showered with academic credit and awards, perhaps even a Nobel Prize. — Jeffrey S. Flier, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026 Navigation was another problem the agent had to solve, with GPT-6 Astra generating a C++ helper that used AzerothCore’s navigation-mesh data, known as mmaps, to calculate routes. — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026 This all comes at a time when ICE arrests have reached a record high—nearly fifty-one thousand in August alone—with agents conducting operations nationwide at hospitals, at airports, and outside schools. — Jonathan Blitzer, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026 Additionally, Devitt argues that even if an AI agent helps a shopper discover a product, Amazon can still handle the purchase and delivery, keeping much of the transaction value. — CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for agent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agent
  1. instrumentality
  2. deputy
  3. ambassador
  4. spy
  5. means
  6. representative
  7. delegate
  8. operative
Noun
  • Advertisement The war on terror represented a failed effort to impose a unipolar order on the world, one that could no longer rely on the economic instrumentality of globalization alone.
    — Faisal Devji, Time, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Issued by the Wyoming Stable Token Commission, a state instrumentality created under the Wyoming Stable Token Act (2023), FRNT is fully reserved and managed in partnership with Franklin Templeton.
    — Jason Brett, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of instrumentality
Noun
  • Yellow smoke and pyrotechnics filled Folsom’s Dan Russell Rodeo Arena as deputies made their entrance, showing off armored vehicles and tactical gear while helicopters flew in formation overhead.
    — Haley Parsley October 4, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Last year, deputies were called to the Cheeca Lodge & Spa after a guest spotted nearly $900 in hotel splurges that had been charged to her room without her knowledge or consent, according to the sheriff’s office.
    — Sofia Saric, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of deputy
Noun
  • The Indian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates said Thursday that Flydubai Captain Smit Machchhar is recovering well after being seriously injured.
    — Christine Valora, The Washington Examiner, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The European expansion will launch in London and Paris through employee ambassador trainings and hands-on learning experiences for young people.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of ambassador
Noun
  • In 2010, 11 deep-cover Russian spies were arrested across the United States, sending shockwaves around the globe.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
  • He was spirited out of Kyiv with maneuvers right out of a spy novel.
    — David Folkenflik, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of spy
Noun
  • For Lev, assessing what participants take home means asking about their behavior.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • On social media, viewers immediately marveled at Rosalía’s ability to deliver her usual powerful vocals during the first song while striking the pose — and some wondered if she was somehow being propped up through unseen means.
    — Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of means
Noun
  • In the records provided to Sportico, the school redacted the name and identifying details of Moore’s representative and the location where his items were sent.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • One of two PetSmart locations in southeast Folsom will close next month, a representative for the company said in an email.
    — Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of representative
Noun
  • More delegates from Latin America, the Arab world and Africa could lift the number of countries represented past 60, and possibly above 70.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Authorities estimate hundreds of thousands of protesters, including students, teachers and delegates from trade unions, took to the streets on Tuesday as protests sweep the country.
    — Melissa Bell, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of delegate
Noun
  • Annable stars in Taylor Sheridan’s Paramount+ series Lioness playing the husband of CIA operative Joe McNamara (Zoe Saldaña).
    — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Jamal allegedly promised to protect the Feeding Our Future operatives against the threat of prosecution, took their money, and then turned some of them over to investigators.
    — Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of operative

Phrases Containing agent

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agendas
agent
agent provocateur
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Cite this Entry

“Agent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agent. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about agent

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