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
Relevance
2
as in bureaucrats
a worker in a government agency
the faceless functionaries at the Internal Revenue Service
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 functionaries
Just as Adolf Eichmann and Albert Speer portrayed themselves not as true believers but as mere functionaries, so Vadim presents himself to Lawrence as a master of method, not of principle.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 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
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 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
-
Regional Transportation District officials have agreed to give the Front Range Passenger Rail District $3 million this year for public education about the first phase of restoring train service linking Colorado cities.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
-
The tank contained sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide and disodium carbonate, officials have said.—
Phil Helsel,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Additionally, those Latino Trumpers do not like bureaucrats.—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
Over the past year, a group of lawyers recorded 486 state treason and espionage cases brought against Russian scientists, bureaucrats, military figures, and other government employees.—
Anna Nemtsova,
Time,
23 May 2026
Noun
-
When officers arrived, Forest Hill police were already on scene and found a passenger in a vehicle with a gunshot wound, police said.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 May 2026
-
Roberto Schmidt / Getty Images Multiple uniformed division officers, including at least one stationed in a cruiser outside the White House security checkpoint, returned fire and killed the gunman, law enforcement sources said.—
Nicole Sganga,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
The nine missing people are all employees of the mill.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Washington’s wife, Toni Washington, criticized jail employees for not searching inmates more thoroughly for drugs, and for placing Asaiah in a cell with an inmate who had been caught smuggling drugs into the jail before.—
Theresa Clift
May 29,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The judge also agreed to apologize to six former clerks, give up any future opportunity to serve as chief judge and indefinitely refrain from serving on judicial conference committees.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
-
The Indian Prairie Classified Association is made up of more than 600 staff members in the district, who serve as support staff — as teacher assistants, health aides, school secretaries, dean’s assistants, Library Media Center assistants, receptionists and copy clerks, according to IPCA’s website.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Just days after the workers lodged these complaints, Spesshardt convened a meeting.—
Sam Tabachnik,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
Gang intervention workers have been credited by city officials as one of the factors behind significant reductions in violent crime in recent years, with homicides and shootings both falling to near-historic lows.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 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 1 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
