Definition of emissarynext
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as in spy
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country the embassy's staff likely contains at least one emissary who reports to the home country's chief of intelligence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 emissary The aiyi have sent an emissary to Scythia, who will determine whether the colonists deserve to survive. Stephanie Burt, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026 The Canadian fighter pilot and physicist is making his space debut, stressful enough, but also serving as his country’s first emissary to the moon. Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026 Another kind of story involves one sibling’s work on the other’s behalf, as a kind of representative or emissary. Christine Smallwood, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026 After sharing a meal and laying out gifts, the emissaries would insist that the Indians move to where the animals were plentiful. Literary Hub, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emissary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emissary
Noun
  • The Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States are scheduled to meet on Tuesday.
    Brian Dakss, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026
  • The State Department enlisted him as a Cold War jazz ambassador.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Healey announced a similar military operation in November after Russia deployed the spy ship Yantar to the North Sea in 2025.
    Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Less than a week before the incident, the victim testified against Mohammed in an eviction hearing, prompting Mohammed to accuse him of being a government spy.
    Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Kimbangu identified God with Nzambi, the deity in the Kikongo language, and presented himself as God’s envoy on Earth.
    Rodney Muhumuza, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
  • The memoir records the workings of Mughal rule, describing dealings with courtiers and envoys.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Body-camera footage shows him being placed in handcuffs, while agents searched his FedEx truck for some sign of Athena.
    Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Dashcam video captured the moments Tuesday morning when Hernandez tried to pull away from agents who were attempting to arrest him as ICE said he is wanted for questioning in El Salvador in connection with a murder.
    Nina Burns, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Voters appeared to elect two Democratic state representatives and one Republican state senator Tuesday in special election runoffs across the northern half of the state.
    Caleb Groves, AJC.com, 8 Apr. 2026
  • The first two of the three meetings are of F1’s ‘Technical Advisory Committee’ which includes representatives from all 11 teams, as well as the five engine manufacturers, the FIA and the F1 organization.
    Luke Smith, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Welcome to being a campaign operative.
    ABC News, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
  • Tillman is a mid-level, mainstream Republican operative who has worked mostly at the state level.
    Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The two candidates, Hilton and Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, must receive 60% of the delegates’ support to secure it.
    Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 10 Apr. 2026
  • James Jack’s 1775 ride from Charlotte to Philadelphia to deliver the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence to congressional delegates.
    Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Sultan Ahmed Al Jabar, the United Arab Emirates minister of industry and advanced technology, criticized Iran's tight grip on the channel, in a LinkedIn post on Thursday.
    NPR Staff, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Levy plays a minister who gets caught up in an accidental theft, leaving him and his sister (Taylor Ortega) to scramble to make things right.
    Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Emissary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emissary. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

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