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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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 His body was found two days later, on July 6, facedown in the water off the shoreline of Horn Island by a National Park Service agent. — Holly Yan, CNN Money, 20 July 2026 With Agentic Mode, the interface is hidden, and the agent can only use the logins and one-time passcodes explicitly approved for the current task. — Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 18 July 2026 Jennifer Johnson, a real estate agent based in Nevada County’s Grass Valley, listed her first farmland property for sale on Facebook Marketplace about six weeks ago. — Lizzie Kane july 18, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026 While porches are often made with concrete or brick, the railings are made from materials like wood, vinyl, and aluminum that require gentler cleaning agents and lighter pressure. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 July 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
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of instrumentality
Noun
  • Outside of the president, no one in Washington has more input in crafting ICE’s strategy than White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller, White House border czar Tom Homan, and DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
    — Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 19 July 2026
  • In Venezuela, the US left Maduro’s government in place under the control of his deputy, Delcy Rodríguez; the country was forced to open up its oil and mining to US investors, but not to democratise.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 19 July 2026
Definition of deputy
Noun
  • Joanne Goh, founder and president of MIFFest, delivered the welcome address alongside this year’s festival ambassadors, Bront Palarae, Daiyan Trisha and Jack Tan.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 July 2026
  • The billionaire owner of Fertitta Entertainment was sworn in as ambassador to Italy in 2025.
    — Colleen Barry, Fortune, 18 July 2026
Definition of ambassador
Noun
  • The book instead focuses on Penelope’s diplomatic genius, along with her loyal women who form a network of spies for her along with a secret militia that quietly runs the island from the shadows for two decades while their men are away at war.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
  • Earlier this month, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance would order up to 10 spy planes from Saab, in a deal that could be worth nearly $5 billion based on the price of the GlobalEye aircraft.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 July 2026
Definition of spy
Noun
  • Russia has launched several large-scale attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks as Ukraine faces a shortage of Patriot air defense missiles, which are its most effective means of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 July 2026
  • While defense spending remains unequal among European NATO countries, most countries have made progress on increasing the means devoted to military capabilities.
    — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 July 2026
Definition of means
Noun
  • Hopkinson and chief financial officer Simon Capper visited Nyon, Switzerland, on multiple occasions, while the CEO also spoke to governing-body representatives in Budapest before the Champions League final in May.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • Waymo’s support team is automatically notified if the vehicle crashes, and a roadside assistance representative will come to the collision site to assess the situation in person.
    — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Definition of representative
Noun
  • It was rejected, an outcome rendered moot when Norway failed to qualify, but delegates passed a separate motion requiring the federation’s president to voice their collective criticism at the next FIFA Congress in Qatar.
    — Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026
  • The Maine Democratic Party's succession plan calls for a state party convention at which 601 delegates will meet on July 25 and vote for Platner's replacement.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
Definition of delegate
Noun
  • In 2018, former campaign worker Alaina Hampton filed allegations against Kevin Quinn, a loyal operative of longtime House speaker Mike Madigan — and Hampton’s supervisor.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
  • According to an official synopsis, season 3 of Lioness sees hidden networks, foreign operatives and personal betrayals collide, forcing Joe to walk the line between duty and home.
    — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 16 July 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 23 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on agent

Nglish: Translation of agent for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about agent

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