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
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The big buy comes as Carlos is working as an ambassador for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
15 June 2026
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The award, which is France’s highest military and civil honor, was bestowed upon him by Jean-Claude Poimboeuf, the French ambassador to Thailand.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Iran’s top diplomat said Tuesday that the tentative deal to end the war would require Israel to withdraw from Lebanon — a condition Israel has already rejected and that could sink the agreement.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 June 2026
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Two men were convicted Monday, and the BBC’s investigation found evidence that a young Russian diplomat had recruited the pair.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
15 June 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
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The water being is an emissary of a much larger civilization, and the team’s survival ultimately depends on their halting interactions with it.—
Jenny Odell,
Longreads,
2 June 2026
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Now, her portrayal of Zosia, the hive mind emissary sent to cajole Rhea Seehorn’s Carol into joining the world’s collective consciousness in Vince Gilligan’s Apple TV sci-fi tale of a happiness apocalypse, has stirred up Emmy buzz.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
31 May 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
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The talks will include US Vice President JD Vance, Jared Kushner and the US special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.—
Mitchell McCluskey,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
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Some nations support Costa’s backchannel proposal As European leaders left overnight after the summit wrapped up, Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever joked that Costa would be the envoy to Moscow.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Noun
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But Iran's foreign minister said any Israeli forces remaining in the country would constitute a violation of the fledgling deal.—
Caroline Linton,
CBS News,
16 June 2026
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Iran’s deputy foreign minister said 60-day nuclear negotiations will begin only once the US releases billions in frozen funds.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
15 June 2026
Noun
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Jack Scarola, an attorney for the couple, said Score and Mills appreciate how news of their mix-up helped connect them with Shea's biological parents.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
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The city attorney’s office submitted a recommendation on Tuesday to break up the charter into a number of amendments.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plenipotentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plenipotentiary. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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