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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So is the nominee to be the ambassador to Greece (who is also Don Jr.'s former fiancée).—
David Folkenflik,
NPR,
10 May 2025
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Off-screen, Reiner serves as an ambassador and board member for the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, and is also an active volunteer firefighter.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
9 May 2025
Noun
-
Sun Sentinel Marco Rubio is the most powerful American diplomat since Kissinger.—
South Florida Sun Sentinel,
Sun Sentinel,
12 May 2025
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Commander Lawrence welcomes diplomats to New Bethlehem.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 May 2025
Noun
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Since then, Kailasa had popped up now and again when its emissaries caused embarrassment for politicians around the world.—
Mujib Mashal,
New York Times,
3 Apr. 2025
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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.—
Marco della Cava,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
Noun
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Netanyahu met with the U.S. president's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.—
Hadeel Al-Shalchi,
NPR,
12 May 2025
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Earlier today, Adam Boehler, Trump’s special envoy for hostage response, flew to Israel with Alexander’s mother in advance of her son’s release.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
12 May 2025
Noun
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Adding to the general uncertainty over how a day of high-stakes diplomacy might unfold, Zelensky is sitting down with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the capital, Ankara, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in southern Turkey for an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
15 May 2025
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Ukraine, which did not agree to the May 8-10 ceasefire, has also accused Russia of violating its own truce, with the Ukrainian foreign minister calling it a farce.—
SAMYA KULLAB,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2025
Noun
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The review aims to ensure that U.S. attorneys in 94 offices nationwide share equal responsibility with headquarters officials in choosing whether to pursue public corruption cases, according to a department official speaking on background.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
20 May 2025
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Since that can have important income tax implications, and because the potential impact of different valuations on beneficiaries, many CPAs or other tax preparers (e.g., the attorney handling the estate) opt to get real numbers.—
Martin Shenkman,
Forbes.com,
19 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plenipotentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plenipotentiary. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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