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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Instead, his minions, so afraid of earning his wrath, have remained quiet.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Ackie mostly barks orders at her minions to go get him, while Nighy in his home plays the bad guy demanding blood.—
Pete Hammond,
Deadline,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Afghanistan said eight of its soldiers had been killed in Friday’s attack.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
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That move came hours before Cuba's government announced that its soldiers killed four people aboard a speedboat registered in Florida that had opened fire on officers in Cuban waters.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For decades, skiing in the backcountry – far from chairlifts, parking lots and the apres-ski bar scene – was the domain of only the most dedicated, or the most anti-corporate, adherents of the sport.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
28 Feb. 2026
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Around 3 in 10 Americans are adherents of or sympathetic to Christian nationalism, the belief that America is or should be a Christian nation, according to data published in February by the Public Religion Research Institute.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His Republican lackeys, the same ones who natter on about limited government and deregulation and staying out of businesses’ way, will presumably get onboard with this.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
25 Feb. 2026
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To keep their gang leader boss from being convicted of murder, a pair of his lackeys went on social media to intimidate a witness, threatening to kill his kindergarten son at his school, federal authorities said Wednesday.—
Leonard Greene,
New York Daily News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Apparatchik.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/apparatchik. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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