DELEGATES Synonyms: 142 Similar and Opposite Words

delegates 1 of 2

noun

plural of delegate

as in ambassadors

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

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as in representatives

a person who acts or does business for another the real estate developer sent a delegate to the town meeting to represent his interests

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delegates

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of delegate

as in commissions

to appoint as one's representative he delegated his son to go pick up the tickets for him

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in hands

to put (something) into the possession or safekeeping of another a manager who is reluctant to delegate authority to subordinates

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of delegates

Noun

Foreign delegates attend On Friday, a number of official foreign delegations and religious leaders attended a ceremony as Khamenei lay in state. — Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR, 6 July 2026 In Philadelphia, fireworks began to crack as early as midday near the site where the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress. — Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 In Philadelphia, fireworks began to crack as early as midday in the birthplace of the nation near the site where the Declaration of Independence was adopted by delegates to the Second Continental Congress. — Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 The Second Continental Congress, a committee of delegates from 13 of the colonies convened in Philadelphia, wanted a formal document to justify their rebellion to the world, and to secure foreign military alliances. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 4 July 2026 Even so, the delegates had little appetite for breaking away from England. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 July 2026 The celebration comes 250 years after delegates in Philadelphia approved the Declaration, setting in motion what would become the world's oldest continuing experiment in self-government. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 July 2026 That hot summer in Philadelphia, the 56 delegates of the Continental Congress who signed the historic document spent a lot of time in nearby taverns, drinking beer and discussing and debating the merits of trying to become an independent nation. — Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 2 July 2026 Button Gwinnett didn’t want to be in Philadelphia for the Second Continental Congress in the summer of 1776, and not just because a heat wave gripped the city and delegates dressed in wool and powdered wigs. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 30 June 2026

Verb

The memo delegates the Defense Secretary to use the Defense Production Act, which can be used to jumpstart production of key items. — Eleanor Watson, CBS News, 16 June 2026 According to Stern, there is also guardianship paperwork, which has been signed by the children’s mother, that delegates parental authority to Omar, who Stern says has acted as a liaison for the children on school and medical matters because their mother does not speak English, per Rochester First. — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026 Coyle also delegates various administrators representing each sport to keep lists of prospective coaches. — Charley Walters, Twin Cities, 4 Apr. 2026 In addition, as Professors Sam Ehrlich and Ryan Rodenberg recently explained in the Cardozo Law Review, there’s a potential non-delegation problem with legislation that delegates regulatory power to private athletic associations such as the NCAA or College Sports Commission. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Dec. 2025 In the United States, the federal government delegates the regulation of the practice of medicine to the states, which aren’t racing nearly fast enough right now to catch up with the galloping med spa industry. — Deanna Pai, Allure, 18 Nov. 2025 Fred Harran, the Republican sheriff of Bucks County, signed up in April for the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) 287(g) program, which delegates some federal immigration responsibilities to local law enforcement departments. — Will McDuffie, ABC News, 13 Nov. 2025 Florida is one of several states that delegates federal immigration enforcement to state and local police. — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025 Gendron's attorneys also said that the district largely delegates the process of jury sourcing to an outside vendor that failed to properly document its procedures. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for delegates

Noun

The pet food brand is looking for one kitten and one puppy to serve as honorary brand ambassadors and help spread the word about healthy eating.

— Drew Pittock, USA Today, 6 July 2026
They’re heavily scheduled as working training vessels and ambassadors of goodwill, and merely getting on their itineraries required planning that began in April 2020.

— Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 June 2026

Definition of ambassadors

Noun

In 1976, there were 18 Black representatives in Congress; today there are 67.

— Susan Bence, NPR, 4 July 2026
Other performers have yet to be officially confirmed by attendees or representatives for Swift and Kelce at the time of publication, though Paul McCartney and Tim McGraw are both believed to have also taken the stage.

— Jaimie Potters, InStyle, 4 July 2026

Definition of representatives

Verb

This past spring, Scott was a slithery wonder in the new season of The Comeback as the tech-boosting network head who commissions a new sitcom for Valerie Cherish (Lisa Kudrow) to star in, written entirely by AI.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 26 May 2026
He’s further slighted after the Emperor commissions him to remake one of his old operas so audiences might remember the country’s past successes.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 May 2026

Definition of commissions

Verb

For my own hat, Adams hands the shaping over to Ryan McBride, a fellow manager who has worked alongside him for most of Adam's tenure.

— Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 July 2026
Suffering from a broken rib and sinus infection, Remco Evenepoel hands his bidon to a child on the roadside and dismounts his bike.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 July 2026

Definition of hands

Noun

The talks come after the Qatari prime minister met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Tuesday to discuss ongoing US-Iran talks and regional developments.

— Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
The envoys won’t be having direct negotiations with Iranian diplomats while in Qatar’s capital, Doha, said Majed al-Ansari, a spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry.

— Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026

Definition of envoys

Verb

The president appoints people to the commission, although congressional leaders help come up with candidates -- and the Senate must confirm them.

— Selina Wang, ABC News, 10 July 2026
The reorganization is set to take place when the next governor, to be determined in November’s election, appoints the first education commissioner in 2027.

— Molly Gibbs, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

Definition of appoints

Verb

Proponents argue recordings would solve a long-standing crisis that leaves many proceedings with no verbatim record.

— Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
Detergent overdosing also leaves behind a film on the inside of the washer, which feeds mold and causes odors.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026

Definition of leaves

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“Delegates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/delegates. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of delegates

noun

verb

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