as in ambassador
technical
a person (such as a diplomat) who has complete power to do business for a government
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Recent Examples of plenipotentiary
All empires have, like the Roman Empire, been… The American System and the World Organization
On the day our plenipotentiaries exchange their full powers, an immortal date will be inscribed in American diplomatic history.
—
Ezequiel Padilla, Foreign Affairs, 10 Sep. 2024
These succeeded to the extent that a meeting was brought about in 1880 between plenipotentiaries of the three belligerents and the American Ministers accredited to those countries on board an American naval vessel in the harbor of Arica.
—Edwin M. Borchard, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2011
The hope of students of Latin-American affairs that the present protocol marks the termination of this bitter controversy may be somewhat tempered by the realization that this is not the first time that a protocol of adjustment has been signed by plenipotentiaries.
—Edwin M. Borchard, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2011
Walpole’s most frequent correspondent was Horace Mann, the British plenipotentiary in Florence, Italy.
—Catherine Ostler, WSJ, 15 Apr. 2022
Then came Bob, the king of Thailand’s valet plenipotentiary.
—Alejandro Varela, Harper's magazine, 16 Sep. 2019
Morris was eventually the United States’ plenipotentiary to France and spent years afterward touring Europe and having affairs there.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 4 June 2019
Ezequiel Padilla, Foreign Affairs, 10 Sep. 2024
These succeeded to the extent that a meeting was brought about in 1880 between plenipotentiaries of the three belligerents and the American Ministers accredited to those countries on board an American naval vessel in the harbor of Arica.
—Edwin M. Borchard, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2011
The hope of students of Latin-American affairs that the present protocol marks the termination of this bitter controversy may be somewhat tempered by the realization that this is not the first time that a protocol of adjustment has been signed by plenipotentiaries.
—Edwin M. Borchard, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2011
Walpole’s most frequent correspondent was Horace Mann, the British plenipotentiary in Florence, Italy.
—Catherine Ostler, WSJ, 15 Apr. 2022
Then came Bob, the king of Thailand’s valet plenipotentiary.
—Alejandro Varela, Harper's magazine, 16 Sep. 2019
Morris was eventually the United States’ plenipotentiary to France and spent years afterward touring Europe and having affairs there.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 4 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plenipotentiary
Noun
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Lacy was named a brand ambassador for YSL back in 2023 and attends its menswear presentation, typically held in Paris, every year during fashion week.—
Jeff Ihaza,
Rolling Stone,
14 Aug. 2025
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Jisoo officially joined Self-Portrait as an ambassador in March 2024, prior to her starring roles in the 2024 and 2025 pre-fall campaigns.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Officials from both countries were expected to hold the one-on-one meeting followed by delegation talks and a joint press conference, with U.S. and allied diplomats monitoring whether the Alaska summit produced a cease-fire framework or specific commitments on sanctions and territorial issues.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
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No longer encumbered by the demands put on the country's top diplomat, Kuleba has been speaking frankly on Kyiv's situation and outlook since departing his former role.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Other top administration lunch guests include chief of staff Susie Wiles, Trump's top foreign emissary Steve Witkoff and deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump's shock-and-awe executive order bonanza.—
Marc Caputo,
Axios,
5 Mar. 2025
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Ahead of the deadline, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, a real estate mogul and cryptocurrency trader who has turned into Trump's de facto roaming emissary, is expected to visit Russia on Aug. 6.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA Today,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
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However, papal legates—diplomatic representatives—continue their external functions.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Apr. 2025
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In the 1520s Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal legate of England, drove forward a similar program of moral and financial reform, winding up a further 29 monasteries.—
Crawford Gribben,
WSJ,
29 Apr. 2022
Noun
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Russia's delegation includes only a few members of Putin's inner circle, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's investment and trade envoy, as well as Ushakov.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
15 Aug. 2025
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The two world leaders met for about three hours alongside senior Russian and U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff, and two Russian aides.—
The Hill,
The Hill,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Iran, China and Russia had also signaled closer coordination on government positions and actions when their top diplomats met in China a week earlier on the margins of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit of foreign ministers.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Aug. 2025
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The Saudis have continued to engage the Iranians and promote diplomacy over military conflict, as evidenced by Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the Iranian foreign minister in his first visit to a Gulf state since the Iranian attack on Qatar.—
Dalia Dassa Kaye,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
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At the hearing on Aug. 6, attorney Andrew Joel Golden, who represents the victim in the Milwaukee case, said the woman objected to the trial postponement.—
Ashley Luthern,
jsonline.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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Escrow Escrow is a neutral third party—often a title company or attorney—that holds funds and documents until all closing conditions are met.—
James Nelson,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plenipotentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plenipotentiary. Accessed 24 Aug. 2025.
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