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
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
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
-
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer leaves 10 Downing Street in London, April 20, 2026 to face a showdown in Parliament over the appointment of Peter Mandelson as ambassador to Washington.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2026
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The top prize at the ACMs (and the rival CMA Awards), Entertainer of the Year is typically regarded as recognizing the year’s best ambassador for country music.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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These incidents demonstrate the tightrope diplomats have to walk amid the threat that the war could restart.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Apr. 2026
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Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat who was imprisoned from 2018 to 2021, said Tuesday the agreement will lead to unfair competition and the erosion of Canada’s industrial base.—
Laura Dhillon Kane,
Bloomberg,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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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
Noun
-
Expect emissaries from the ever-changing world of media.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Bini — already stadium-sized superstars in Asia — is the latest emissary in Coachella’s reach for new sounds from around the globe.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
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
-
Kimbangu identified God with Nzambi, the deity in the Kikongo language, and presented himself as God’s envoy on Earth.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The memoir records the workings of Mughal rule, describing dealings with courtiers and envoys.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Yusuf Tuggar, who had been foreign minister since 2023, resigned last month to seek a state governorship.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
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The announcement followed a post on X from Iran's foreign minister confirming the opening.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Orange County district attorney’s office did not immediately return a message seeking comment Wednesday, nor did Yourex’s attorney.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
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Netflix has dropped a trailer for its comic superhero series out of Korea, which reunites director Yoo In-sik of Extraordinary Attorney Woo with actor Park Eun-bin, who starred as the titular neurodivergent attorney.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plenipotentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plenipotentiary. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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