Synonyms of delegate

delegate 1 of 2

noun

ˈde-li-gət 

1

as in ambassador

a person sent on a mission to represent another

the delegate had a list of concerns to discuss with the country's new prime minister

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ambassador
• representative
• envoy
• minister
• agent
• diplomat
• legate
• consul
• emissary
• deputy
• proxy
• missionary
• spokesperson
• foreign minister
• attaché
• apostle
• nuncio
• procurator
• messenger
• ambassadress
• evangelist
• legation
• chargé d'affaires
• deputation
• courier
• mouthpiece
• detachment

2

as in representative

a person who acts or does business for another

the real estate developer sent a delegate to the town meeting to represent his interests

Synonyms & Similar Words

• representative
• deputy
• agent
• attorney
• manager
• minister
• proxy
• ambassador
• assignee
• rep
• envoy
• factor
• commissary
• procurator
• diplomat
• spokesperson
• surrogate
• substitute
• speaker
• plenipotentiary
• replacement
• foreign minister
• spokesman
• legate
• distributor
• diplomatist
• operative
• stand-in
• sub
• alternate
• liaison
• emissary
• spy
• broker
• arbitrator
• backup
• mediator
• arbiter
• informer
• intermediary
• relief
• pinch hitter
• conciliator
• peacemaker
• understudy
• middleman
• prophet
• point man
• intercessor
• mouthpiece
• point person
• comprador
• go-between
• interposer

delegate

2 of 2

verb

ˈde-li-ˌgāt 

1

as in to appoint

to appoint as one's representative

he delegated his son to go pick up the tickets for him

Synonyms & Similar Words

• appoint
• deputize
• commission
• assign
• depute
• nominate
• designate
• charge
• name

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• abrogate
• abdicate

2

as in to hand

to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another

a manager who is reluctant to delegate authority to subordinates

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hand
• leave
• transfer
• entrust
• give
• relinquish
• deliver
• pass
• transmit
• trust
• commit
• commend
• grant
• confide
• recommend
• vest
• hand over
• turn over
• assign
• loan
• submit
• consign
• confer
• give over
• distribute
• repose
• lend
• divide
• deal (out)
• will
• bequeath
• dispense
• furnish
• supply
• surrender
• turn in
• disperse
• yield
• hand in
• release
• hand down
• advance
• recommit
• hand on
• redeliver
• retransmit
• retransfer

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• hold
• retain
• keep
• withhold
• receive
• own
• possess
• accept
• reserve
• take
• hold back
• occupy
• detain
• take over
• take in

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of delegate

Noun

This year’s Miss World competition recently made headlines during the preliminaries when Ugandan delegate Elle Muhoza made a powerful fashion statement. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026

Earlier this year, delegates failed to agree on who to endorse for governor at the state party convention. — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2026

Verb

Tennessee developed the framework after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission delegated regulation of fusion energy production to the states. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026

States have largely refused to comply, citing privacy laws and the Constitution, which expressly delegates election administration to the states subject to congressional oversight. — Eric McDaniel, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026

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