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 In 2021, Biden emissaries turned to the Roman Catholic Church for help, former Biden-era officials told USA TODAY. Rick Jervis, USA Today, 13 May 2026 Expect emissaries from the ever-changing world of media. Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026 Bini — already stadium-sized superstars in Asia — is the latest emissary in Coachella’s reach for new sounds from around the globe. Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 The overconfidence of the pro-Trump push in country music pre- and postelection is backfiring on many of its most enthusiastic emissaries. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for emissary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for emissary
Noun
  • Joanne Goh, founder and president of MIFFest, delivered the welcome address alongside this year’s festival ambassadors, Bront Palarae, Daiyan Trisha and Jack Tan.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 July 2026
  • The billionaire owner of Fertitta Entertainment was sworn in as ambassador to Italy in 2025.
    Colleen Barry, Fortune, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • The book instead focuses on Penelope’s diplomatic genius, along with her loyal women who form a network of spies for her along with a secret militia that quietly runs the island from the shadows for two decades while their men are away at war.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
  • Earlier this month, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance would order up to 10 spy planes from Saab, in a deal that could be worth nearly $5 billion based on the price of the GlobalEye aircraft.
    Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • There had been some initial talks between opposition leaders and Rodríguez envoys about a democratic transition, but they were put on hold following the earthquake.
    John Otis, NPR, 16 July 2026
  • Oman summons Iranian envoy Missile alerts sounded across several gulf Arab countries.
    Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
Noun
  • His body was found two days later, on July 6, facedown in the water off the shoreline of Horn Island by a National Park Service agent.
    Holly Yan, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • With Agentic Mode, the interface is hidden, and the agent can only use the logins and one-time passcodes explicitly approved for the current task.
    Will McCurdy, PC Magazine, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • Hopkinson and chief financial officer Simon Capper visited Nyon, Switzerland, on multiple occasions, while the CEO also spoke to governing-body representatives in Budapest before the Champions League final in May.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 18 July 2026
  • Waymo’s support team is automatically notified if the vehicle crashes, and a roadside assistance representative will come to the collision site to assess the situation in person.
    Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 18 July 2026
Noun
  • In 2018, former campaign worker Alaina Hampton filed allegations against Kevin Quinn, a loyal operative of longtime House speaker Mike Madigan — and Hampton’s supervisor.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2026
  • According to an official synopsis, season 3 of Lioness sees hidden networks, foreign operatives and personal betrayals collide, forcing Joe to walk the line between duty and home.
    Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026
Noun
  • It was rejected, an outcome rendered moot when Norway failed to qualify, but delegates passed a separate motion requiring the federation’s president to voice their collective criticism at the next FIFA Congress in Qatar.
    Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026
  • The Maine Democratic Party's succession plan calls for a state party convention at which 601 delegates will meet on July 25 and vote for Platner's replacement.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • His successor will be Ukraine’s fifth defense minister since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 16 July 2026
  • In January, Mykhailo Fedorov, who had recently been named Ukraine’s defense minister, outlined one of his chief strategic goals.
    Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 15 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Emissary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/emissary. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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