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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of functionaries
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
Proposal 5 was actually a bit of skilled electoral craft on the part of the city’s map functionaries.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 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
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
Proposal 5 was actually a bit of skilled electoral craft on the part of the city’s map functionaries.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 4 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functionaries
Noun
-
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
-
These achievements are linked to the longstanding work between the county, local providers and community partners, officials say.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Rheinmetall was an obvious place for bureaucrats to direct the Zeitenwende funds.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Yet if the denial of a driver’s license is based on such arbitrary factors as a victim’s advocacy, or a defendant’s remorse, or public opinion, or the whims of state bureaucrats, the results are inconsistent.—
Rachel Swan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Travelers said the long lines have been frustrating and are looking forward to TSA officers getting paid again.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Inside were the officers’ first assignments.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Police say that Marrero did taxes for multiple firms, managers, and employees.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
After a kind gesture to airport employees in Georgia didn't go as planned, Tyler Perry found a workaround.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This is an election year for some county commissioners, clerks, treasurers, assessors and coroners in Ada and Canyon counties.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Occupations such as construction laborers, janitors, electricians, barbers, and bartenders, may largely be in the clear, whereas accountants, office clerks, customer service reps, and software developers could be the hardest hit.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And so the actor and filmmaker ended up donating $250,000 worth of Visa gift cards to TSA workers at the Atlanta airport on March 27.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Quintal, who was transported to Broward Health Medical Center with injuries along with Wilson, was placed on workers’ comp leave.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Harvest for mandarins can begin as early as November and last through April.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Oranges, grapefruits, lemons, mandarins, pomelos, and kumquats are among the most nutrient-dense citrus fruits.—
Zia Sherrell,
Health,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functionaries.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functionaries. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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