plenipotentiary

noun

Definition of plenipotentiarynext
as in ambassador
technical a person (such as a diplomat) who has complete power to do business for a government

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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 plenipotentiary Walpole’s most frequent correspondent was Horace Mann, the British plenipotentiary in Florence, Italy. — Catherine Ostler, WSJ, 15 Apr. 2022 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plenipotentiary
  1. ambassador
  2. diplomat
  3. diplomatist
  4. emissary
  5. legate
  6. envoy
  7. foreign minister
  8. attorney
Noun
  • Joanne Goh, founder and president of MIFFest, delivered the welcome address alongside this year’s festival ambassadors, Bront Palarae, Daiyan Trisha and Jack Tan.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 July 2026
  • The billionaire owner of Fertitta Entertainment was sworn in as ambassador to Italy in 2025.
    — Colleen Barry, Fortune, 18 July 2026
Definition of ambassador
Noun
  • The appointment makes Miliband Britain’s top diplomat and a principal counterpart to Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a time when Burnham is seeking to preserve close ties with Washington.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 21 July 2026
  • The business also attracted high profile clients like diplomats and actors.
    — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 20 July 2026
Definition of diplomat
Noun
  • The trouble, rather, is that even our top foreign-policy experts and our most sophisticated diplomatists are creatures of our own cultural heritage and intellectual environment.
    — Nicholas Eberstadt, National Review, 11 Sep. 2017
Definition of diplomatist
Noun
  • The bell was joined by a container for herbs and medicines depicting the head of Ofoe, a divine emissary of the deity Ogie’uwu.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
  • The president’s top-two emissaries also happen to be the highest-profile potential candidates to succeed him.
    — Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026
Definition of emissary
Noun
  • However, papal legates—diplomatic representatives—continue their external functions.
    — Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025
  • 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
Definition of legate
Noun
  • There had been some initial talks between opposition leaders and Rodríguez envoys about a democratic transition, but they were put on hold following the earthquake.
    — John Otis, NPR, 16 July 2026
  • Oman summons Iranian envoy Missile alerts sounded across several gulf Arab countries.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026
Definition of envoy
Noun
  • Former Labour leader Ed Miliband was appointed as foreign minister in place of Yvette Cooper and John Healey became finance minister.
    — Alexander Smith, NBC news, 20 July 2026
  • Trump, however, denied knowing anything about the Tates’ case, and the Romanian foreign minister insisted the country hadn’t been pressured to lift the travel restrictions on the brothers.
    — Chad de Guzman, Time, 20 July 2026
Definition of foreign minister
Noun
  • Patrick Clancy appears to share a similar perspective to the one put forward by his wife’s attorney and the lawsuit.
    — Chelsea Bailey, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • The Innocence Project persuaded a top trial attorney, Hubert Santos, to advocate for Smith’s release.
    — Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2026
Definition of attorney

Browse Nearby Words

plenipotentiaries
plenipotentiary
plenitude
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“Plenipotentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plenipotentiary. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on plenipotentiary

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