as in minion
disapproving
a very loyal member of an organization (such as a company or political party) who always obeys orders
party apparatchiks
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Recent Examples of apparatchik
In that time, Tucci appeared in a number of films as either a foot soldier, don, or other apparatchik of an underground criminal organization, including Quick Change, Men of Respect, Billy Bathgate, and The Public Eye.
—
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025
But his theory seemed to mirror the temperament of Deng, who, for all his reformist tendencies, was a ruthless apparatchik.
—Chang Che, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024
Khamenei will decide which hardline apparatchik appears on the ballot to replace him.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 23 May 2024
Yet those two factions’ usual disdain for smooth political transitions seemed to wane in February, when Hamas elected a military commander, Yehya Sinwar, to serve as its next leader in Gaza, and the longtime apparatchik Mahmoud al-Aloul became Fatah’s first-ever vice president.
—Grant Rumley, Foreign Affairs, 9 Mar. 2017
See All Example Sentences for apparatchik
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 19 Mar. 2025
But his theory seemed to mirror the temperament of Deng, who, for all his reformist tendencies, was a ruthless apparatchik.
—Chang Che, The New Yorker, 21 Dec. 2024
Khamenei will decide which hardline apparatchik appears on the ballot to replace him.
—Karl Vick, TIME, 23 May 2024
Yet those two factions’ usual disdain for smooth political transitions seemed to wane in February, when Hamas elected a military commander, Yehya Sinwar, to serve as its next leader in Gaza, and the longtime apparatchik Mahmoud al-Aloul became Fatah’s first-ever vice president.
—Grant Rumley, Foreign Affairs, 9 Mar. 2017
See All Example Sentences for apparatchik
Recent Examples of Synonyms for apparatchik
Noun
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And dark matter is the invisible minions.—
Dipangkar Dutta,
The Conversation,
15 Dec. 2025
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And this is precisely the danger Kingstown is facing with Merle on the loose and his minions ready to mobilize.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
14 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Lockheed Martin revealed that the NGSRI offering is being developed as a 21st Century Security solution that meets all soldier safety and performance needs.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Jan. 2026
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An old photograph from the 1940s had resurfaced, showing the home with the porch intact and a soldier seated on the front steps.—
Gina Mayfield,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Lawyers for the Satanic Temple argued that these restrictions conflict with the religious practices of its Hoosier adherents.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
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The movement had adherents among the student body and on the faculty at the Catholic University in Chiclayo, which has about ten thousand students, and the cathedral boasted an enormous portrait of Josemaria Escrivá, Opus Dei’s sainted founder.—
Paul Elie,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And SpongeBob, determined to not be just a bubble blowing baby boy, is set off on his own odyssey that takes him and his jolly starfish sidekick Patrick (Bill Fagerbakke) on a madcap adventure to the underworld with the ghost of The Flying Dutchman ( Mark Hamill ) and his lackey Barb (Regina Hall).—
Lindsey Bahr,
Boston Herald,
20 Dec. 2025
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Tony & Ziva wrapped its rollercoaster of an espionage tale Thursday with an intense finale, which picked up with the titular pair once again going in search of their daughter Tali after she’s kidnapped by Jonah Markham’s (Julian Ovendon) lackeys.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Apparatchik.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apparatchik. Accessed 21 Jan. 2026.
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