1
as in instrumentalities
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 representatives
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 ambassadors
a person sent on a mission to represent another
an undercover agent of the Crown
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in spies
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 agents
Our senators aren’t listening to us Few things in life are worse than listening to endless hold music when connecting to live customer service agents at your bank, utility, or airline.
—
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
Kerr had been meeting with media agents, Front Office Sports reported the week after the season ended, signaling a sign that the coach might return to broadcasting.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 May 2026
The agents drove off with Concepcion in the car.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
This year is the year of the agents, Amon said, in the sense that everyone is playing with giving artificial machines some autonomy over their lives.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 May 2026
Investigators are now working with federal agents to determine whether the suspect may be connected to a human trafficking case.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 9 May 2026
With virtual access reducing the urgency to be there in person, sales agents complain that buyers now send smaller staffs.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
Spirit’s thousands of employees have lost their jobs, so there won’t be customer service agents to assist them.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 2 May 2026
After the shooting, agents removed Hernández’s clothing and left him handcuffed and sitting naked on the side of the road, according to Kolasinski.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 May 2026
Kerr had been meeting with media agents, Front Office Sports reported the week after the season ended, signaling a sign that the coach might return to broadcasting.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 10 May 2026
The agents drove off with Concepcion in the car.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 9 May 2026
This year is the year of the agents, Amon said, in the sense that everyone is playing with giving artificial machines some autonomy over their lives.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 9 May 2026
Investigators are now working with federal agents to determine whether the suspect may be connected to a human trafficking case.
—Da Lin, CBS News, 9 May 2026
With virtual access reducing the urgency to be there in person, sales agents complain that buyers now send smaller staffs.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 8 May 2026
Spirit’s thousands of employees have lost their jobs, so there won’t be customer service agents to assist them.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 2 May 2026
After the shooting, agents removed Hernández’s clothing and left him handcuffed and sitting naked on the side of the road, according to Kolasinski.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agents
Noun
-
Bores didn’t see many signs that our representatives were taking this sufficiently seriously.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
The rule drew more than 9,000 public comments from both physicians and cancer research organizations supporting its implementation and from tanning bed industry representatives and business owners opposed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
The archives ultimately appointed 48 ambassadors.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The ambassadors and cabinet members that typically stock these events were absent with the exception of Congressman Maxwell Frost, who attended both the TIME and MS Now parties in sunglasses and a boxy tuxedo.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
According to the ministry, foreign spies are infiltrating everything from mapping apps to weather stations.—
Sylvie Zhuang,
CNN Money,
7 May 2026
-
The logline concerns two rival spies who cross paths in a Lamaze class as their wives become fast friends.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The sudden cancellations effectively stranded hundreds of travelers, who were left scrambling for alternative means of transportation.—
Jessica Puckett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 May 2026
-
Implementing mass timber at scale means navigating property lines and managing infrastructure boundaries between private owners.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
State delegates wrote a letter to Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink, claiming there has been a lack of transparency surrounding the leak.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
They are given the task of hosting world leaders, dignitaries, and delegates—and, as every Southerner knows, that means serving up the perfect menu.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Negotiations continued by phone after Trump called off his envoys’ trip to Pakistan last week, the president said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 May 2026
-
Negotiations continued by phone after Trump called off his envoys’ trip to Pakistan last weekend, the president said.—
Sarah el Deeb,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Years later, drawn into a covert network of operatives and manipulated through a web of corruption, Clay must decide whether to become the weapon he was shaped to be or dismantle the system from within.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Authorities should also examine whether Allen was known to authorities and, if so, whether intelligence operatives could have pieced together his train travel and arrival in the president’s orbit, Shortland said.—
Justine McDaniel,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Registration and renewal costs for noncommercial vehicles — those weighing 8,000 pounds or less — can range from $24 to $140 for a standard Idaho license plate.—
Hali Smith
May 4,
Idaho Statesman,
4 May 2026
-
The agreements also take aim at China’s control and manipulation of the global production of heavy rare earths, which are used for making powerful, heat-resistant magnets in industries such as defense and electric vehicles.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agents. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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