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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In May, New York City pro skateboarder and longtime Supreme ambassador Tyshawn Jones, 26, filed a $26 million defamation lawsuit against the brand, claiming that Supreme effectively tried to blacklist him after terminating his sponsorship contract with the brand.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
26 June 2025
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Much of Norway’s Coastal Kitchen’s success is thanks to Hurtigruten’s culinary ambassadors, who collaborate with the onboard chefs to create menus that authentically represent Norway’s culinary culture.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
26 June 2025
Noun
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The law has been interpreted since 1898 to guarantee U.S. citizenship to nearly all individuals born within the country's territory, except for very specific exceptions such as children of diplomats.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 June 2025
-
The move broke with longstanding precedent that all babies born in the United States are automatically U.S. citizens, with the exception of the children of diplomats.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Connolly will serve as the emissary between YouTube and the world of traditional media and entertainment.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
23 May 2025
-
Even more confusing: His drug operation is overseen by a French syndicate, who has sent an alluring emissary played by Lera Abova, who wears leopard print and rides around on a scooter.—
Esther Zuckerman,
IndieWire,
23 May 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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The release came hours after Belarusian authorities announced that authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko met with President Trump’s envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, in the capital of Minsk.—
Yuras Karmanau,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2025
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Lammy traveled to Geneva after meeting in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump's Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 June 2025
Noun
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And Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi is in Moscow today to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.—
Cate Martel,
The Hill,
23 June 2025
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On Friday, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK met their Iranian counterpart, Araghchi, in Geneva to try to get Tehran to restart nuclear talks with the US.—
Sara Braun,
Fortune,
22 June 2025
Noun
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Defense attorney Stuart Cearley told jurors the video showed Grindstaff was in fear for his life when Stacy decided to back up toward him using his vehicle as a weapon, even striking Grindstaff’s patrol vehicle.—
Ron Wood,
Arkansas Online,
24 June 2025
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Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo argued in court that Gina is, in fact, not a victim of Combs' and that prosecutors have deliberately decided against calling her because her testimony could damage their case.—
Kaitlyn Morris,
ABC News,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plenipotentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plenipotentiary. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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