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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Lisa Price, founder of Carol’s Daughter; media maven Angela Yee; Genesis Dominguez of Honey Beauty NYC; and celebrity stylist and Sally Beauty ambassador Gregory Patterson were among the panel participants.—
Essence,
Essence,
21 July 2025
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President Donald Trump last week named outspoken author and political commentator Adams as the White House's nominee for U.S. ambassador to Malaysia.—
Mandy Leong,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
Noun
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Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reportedly told the European Union’s top diplomat earlier this month that Beijing can’t accept Russia losing its war against Ukraine as this could allow the United States to turn its full attention to China.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
22 July 2025
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While the Israelis have reportedly agreed to move troops farther away from key corridors, some question if Israeli diplomats shuttling to Qatar and Egypt for talks actually have the mandate to negotiate.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
22 July 2025
Noun
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There are, however, some officials who, as needed, can act as emissaries, even if the cardinals themselves cannot leave until a successful ballot is cast, meaning one cardinal receives two-thirds of the votes and is elected pope.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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Previously, Abbas had served as a longtime PLO functionary, acting as the group’s foreign emissary and fundraiser.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
6 June 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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One person close to Lutnick compared his style to that of Steve Witkoff, Trump’s golf buddy turned special envoy, who has been dispatched to broker an end to the hostilities in Ukraine and Gaza.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
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Three months earlier, six other Americans whom the U.S. government considered wrongfully detained in Venezuela were released after Richard Grenell, Trump's envoy for special missions, met with Maduro at the presidential palace.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 July 2025
Noun
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Their leaders will meet in Malaysia on Monday to discuss the escalating conflict, according to Malaysia’s state news agency, citing the country’s foreign minister.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
27 July 2025
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Such trade and investment deals should be the focus of the next C5+1 ministerial conference, an annual meeting of U.S. and Central Asian foreign ministers held since 2015.—
JEFFREY MANKOFF,
Foreign Affairs,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Burke was terminated by the department after he was charged, his attorney, Marc Curtis, said after the start of the hearing June 23.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
31 July 2025
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Grossberg's attorney, Thomas Clay, filed a motion for voluntary dismissal on July 24, six days after lawyers for the ethics commission and its members also moved to dismiss the case.—
Lucas Aulbach,
The Courier-Journal,
31 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plenipotentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plenipotentiary. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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