as in officials
a person who holds a public office
the last officeholder was extremely conscientious about not using public funds for his personal gain
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 officeholders
These organizations historically served as recruitment and support networks for candidates challenging incumbent officeholders.
—
Charlie Hunt, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
Elections serve not merely as mechanisms for selecting officeholders, but as opportunities for citizens to evaluate governance and hold officials accountable.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2026
The year before, voters in Idaho approved a ballot initiative and became one of a handful of states to establish term limits, including for its federal officeholders.
—Kevin Fixler
january 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
In the aftermath of Pretti’s death, which has prompted even some Republican officeholders to call for an investigation, state officials have accused the federal government of blocking access to the scene of the shooting.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The Fair Political Practices Commission, the state’s political watchdog, has about 100 staff members overseeing thousands of candidates and officeholders and often relies on complaints to open investigations.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Statewide officeholders and lawmakers are required to file campaign finance reports every six months.
—Philip Jankowski, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
Both blamed a long-standing Senate practice that made their confirmations to become permanent officeholders unlikely.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2025
Non-White officeholders are more than three times as likely as White officeholders to experience abuse targeting their race.
—Ernestine Nettles, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
Charlie Hunt, Washington Post, 9 Feb. 2026
Elections serve not merely as mechanisms for selecting officeholders, but as opportunities for citizens to evaluate governance and hold officials accountable.
—Charlie Hunt, The Conversation, 6 Feb. 2026
The year before, voters in Idaho approved a ballot initiative and became one of a handful of states to establish term limits, including for its federal officeholders.
—Kevin Fixler
january 29, Idaho Statesman, 29 Jan. 2026
In the aftermath of Pretti’s death, which has prompted even some Republican officeholders to call for an investigation, state officials have accused the federal government of blocking access to the scene of the shooting.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
The Fair Political Practices Commission, the state’s political watchdog, has about 100 staff members overseeing thousands of candidates and officeholders and often relies on complaints to open investigations.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 18 Jan. 2026
Statewide officeholders and lawmakers are required to file campaign finance reports every six months.
—Philip Jankowski, Dallas Morning News, 15 Jan. 2026
Both blamed a long-standing Senate practice that made their confirmations to become permanent officeholders unlikely.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 15 Dec. 2025
Non-White officeholders are more than three times as likely as White officeholders to experience abuse targeting their race.
—Ernestine Nettles, Mercury News, 22 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for officeholders
Noun
-
Former Vice President Kamala Harris did not attend the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing because the Biden administration did not send any diplomatic officials as a boycott over human rights concerns.—
MICHELLE L. PRICE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
As a politicized national fight over waste, fraud and abuse led by Republicans have targeted California and its Democratic leadership, Bonta and other state officials have moved swiftly to combat the claims.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The trial is part of a broader push to hold more people accountable for a school shooting, including the shooter’s parents and responding law enforcement officers.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
16 Feb. 2026
-
But until May, they were understood to not allow law enforcement officers to enter a suspect's home.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Officeholders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/officeholders. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
