1
as in officials
a person who holds a public office
spoke to high-ranking functionaries at the embassy in the hopes that they could help
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in bureaucrats
a worker in a government agency
the faceless functionaries at the Internal Revenue Service
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of functionaries
This Levantine subculture socialized in French, voiced endearments in Arabic, communicated with functionaries in Turkish.
—
Joseph O’Neill, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
More than funding, though, is needed transparency by IDNR functionaries with marina boaters and Winthrop Harbor officials.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Their prestige suffers because it is conflated in the public’s mind with long lines at the DMV, fastidious building inspectors, parking tickets—the stuff of local functionaries.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
Bigelow’s sympathetic eye for her functionaries risks the film being misread as an argument for more robust military funding.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Evil is aided and abetted by the banality of institutions and their functionaries.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Since then, there have been many more arrests—especially of regional functionaries at various levels.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
But this newsletter is more focused on how Trump and his fawning functionaries speak about and for him.
—Chris Brennan, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Surrounded by allies, rivals, and functionaries with their own agendas, Roh navigates a dense network of relationships in his bid to claim the top seat for himself.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Joseph O’Neill, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
More than funding, though, is needed transparency by IDNR functionaries with marina boaters and Winthrop Harbor officials.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
Their prestige suffers because it is conflated in the public’s mind with long lines at the DMV, fastidious building inspectors, parking tickets—the stuff of local functionaries.
—Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 11 Jan. 2026
Bigelow’s sympathetic eye for her functionaries risks the film being misread as an argument for more robust military funding.
—Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025
Evil is aided and abetted by the banality of institutions and their functionaries.
—Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Since then, there have been many more arrests—especially of regional functionaries at various levels.
—Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2025
But this newsletter is more focused on how Trump and his fawning functionaries speak about and for him.
—Chris Brennan, USA Today, 29 Aug. 2025
Surrounded by allies, rivals, and functionaries with their own agendas, Roh navigates a dense network of relationships in his bid to claim the top seat for himself.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functionaries
Noun
-
Federal immigration officials are urging New York authorities not to release a 59-year-old Salvadoran national accused of raping a 16-year-old girl on Long Island, warning that he should be turned over to ICE if released from local custody.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
19 June 2026
-
But recently, public health officials have raised alarms about a component of the leaf called 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH, an alkaloid that has the potential for abuse and addiction in high doses.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
There is an unmistakable feeling that a great mass of fans are priced out, or fenced out, while wealthy sponsors and venal bureaucrats get the benefits.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
13 June 2026
-
Getting foreign streamers to support local content creators so Canadians could view their own films and TV shows rather than rely on Netflix and Prime Video for popular fare may have seemed a good idea among bureaucrats and regulators in Ottawa.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
Police shot a suspect who allegedly hit multiple officers with a vehicle in the Bronx on Sunday, the New York City Police Department said.—
Jenna DeAngelis,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
-
Family members told officers that a man had been underwater for some time, police said.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
In an effort combat the algae in the Reflecting Pool, employees of the National Park Service were seen pouring in gallons of hydrogen peroxide, a chemical commonly used in pool maintenance.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2026
-
Families visiting downtown, workers commuting home, residents of every background, restaurant employees finishing late shifts, ride-share drivers and visitors all have a legitimate interest in being able to safely access Chicago’s lakefront and downtown areas.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
It also was alleged that the judge didn't properly supervise clerks and on one occasion yelled and cursed at staff.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
-
The company is looking to hire deli, grocery and meat clerks, cashiers, managers and administrative coordinators.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
The facilities can create thousands of jobs for construction workers and generate significant revenue for local governments due to sales and property taxes.—
Katie King,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
-
The highland Indigenous and rural workers' groups — who long supported MAS but helped vault Paz to power last year — have led the protests, accusing his government of neglecting their needs since entering office.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
Thankfully, a handful of citrus trees, including lemons, limes, and mandarins, can thrive in containers.—
Helena Madden,
Martha Stewart,
24 May 2026
-
Are mandarins and oranges good for you?—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functionaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functionaries. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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