1
as in official
a person who holds a public office
spoke to high-ranking functionaries at the embassy in the hopes that they could help
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2
as in bureaucrat
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 functionary
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
See All Example Sentences for functionary
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
See All Example Sentences for functionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functionary
Noun
-
The text of the 14-point agreement was read by a senior administration official in a call with reporters on Wednesday.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
-
Police Chief Stacey Graves said during a Wednesday evening news conference that law enforcement officials consider Sanchez-Munoz to be armed and dangerous.—
Ben Wheeler,
Kansas City Star,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Although Meagher was a bureaucrat, her sensibilities were bohemian.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
20 June 2026
-
The burly bureaucrat in dark slacks and a navy sweater has a scruffy beard and the frazzled look of an anonymous factotum thrust into the limelight.—
Joshua Hunt,
Vanity Fair,
17 June 2026
Noun
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According to detectives, officers found the 14-year-old after receiving a description of his vehicle over a broadcast.—
Kaicey Baylor,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
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Police Scotland said that a 36-year-old man was arrested late Friday after officers received multiple reports of attacks in the west and north of Edinburgh.—
Jill Lawless,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Noun
-
That belief is guiding the work of the clerk’s office.—
Monica Gordon,
Chicago Tribune,
22 June 2026
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Colorado's county clerks want voters to know that elections are administered by dedicated public servants who work every day to ensure ballots are handled securely, accurately, and transparently.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
Noun
-
In reality, though, most workers don’t get to retire on their own terms.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
20 June 2026
-
Protests, backed by workers unions, farmers and supporters of former President Evo Morales, are demanding Paz resign.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
Other people may have been exposed at nearby health facilities, which are contacting their patients and employees directly.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Human resources specialists These workers oversee hiring, orientation and ongoing support for employees, handling recruitment, benefits and workplace concerns.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
19 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Functionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functionary. Accessed 23 Jun. 2026.
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