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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agent
Trump ultimately activated the National Guard and federal agents later in August to deter crime, clear homeless encampments, and remove trash in public areas.
—
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2025
The agents at Slough House are renowned for the incompetence that landed them there, but there have been, of course, plenty of times when their instincts are sound, their actions are noble, and they’re wildly underestimated, just like their flatulent boss.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
One, the simplest, is that Wallenberg refused to be turned into a Soviet agent, signing his death sentence.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
The case comes shortly after the Supreme Court lifted a restraining order that had prevented immigration agents in Los Angeles from stopping people solely on the basis of race, language, or workplace.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agent
David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2025
The agents at Slough House are renowned for the incompetence that landed them there, but there have been, of course, plenty of times when their instincts are sound, their actions are noble, and they’re wildly underestimated, just like their flatulent boss.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2025
One, the simplest, is that Wallenberg refused to be turned into a Soviet agent, signing his death sentence.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025
The case comes shortly after the Supreme Court lifted a restraining order that had prevented immigration agents in Los Angeles from stopping people solely on the basis of race, language, or workplace.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for agent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agent
Noun
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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
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Similarly, about three-fourths of DEA agents, a third of US deputy marshals, and nearly all Homeland Security Investigations agents have been diverted to work on immigration, according to ICE documents detailing assignments through the end of August that were first obtained by the Cato Institute.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
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Few do, and the only Chelsea player who springs to mind as being as exciting as Palmer on the ball would be a risky choice as his deputy.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The 28-year-old, the first flag football athlete to receive major sponsorships from Under Armour, Gatorade and Oakley, is an NFL global ambassador.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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Capitalizing on her close relationships with the directors of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, the Louvre and the Palace of Versailles, the NGV also named Campbell-Pretty as its ambassador to France.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
11 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Simu Liu and Melissa Barrera play dangerous spy games in the teaser trailer for Peacock’s upcoming espionage thriller The Copenhagen Test, which dropped on Sunday.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Oct. 2025
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According to Chinese sources, one of its electronic warfare (EW) systems has successfully deceived a foreign spy plane over the South China Sea.—
Christopher McFadden,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
For Brentford, the end can often be said to justify the means.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
-
How To Keep Skunks Away Removing potential food sources and excluding skunks from an area are the most effective means of keeping them away from your home.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Did the crisis highlight the Kafkaesque absurdity of Cold War politics by sparking an international circle-jerk between various representatives from South Korea, North Korea, Japan, America, and the Soviet Union?—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
15 Oct. 2025
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While the center is expected to be operational in the coming days, Egypt, Turkey and Qatar have yet to decide whether their representatives will be based there.—
Jennifer Griffin , Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
15 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The event is spearheaded by Cannes delegate general Thierry Frémaux, in his other role as head of the Institut Lumière, who posed the question asking for an update on the status of Mann’s Western projects.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
17 Oct. 2025
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Inflation has been a key focal point among delegates at the IMF and World Bank annual meetings this week.—
Chloe Taylor,Tasmin Lockwood,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The president revoked Bolton’s Secret Service detail earlier this year, even as Iranian operatives remained under an indictment for plotting to assassinate him.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
15 Oct. 2025
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On Monday, dozens of Hamas operatives were seen at a hospital in southern Gaza during the release of Israeli hostages.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Agent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agent. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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