as in ambassador
technical
a person (such as a diplomat) who has complete power to do business for a government
Related Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
The actor and Louis Vuitton ambassador posed at Palais des Festivals during the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival wearing the black leather pair just under the knee, with a wide pull-on shaft left open around the calf.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
-
The cruise line established its Global Fresh Fish Program in 2023, with celebrity chef Masaharu Morimoto as the program’s ambassador.—
Claudia Alarcón,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Targeting Castro may leave Cuban officials little room to maneuver, cautioned former diplomat Zúñiga.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
20 May 2026
-
Such tools can remotely hack into phones and have been abused repeatedly by governments around the world that have used them not only to counter national security threats, but also to spy on political rivals, diplomats, human rights activists and journalists.—
Jude Joffe-Block,
NPR,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
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
-
In 2021, Biden emissaries turned to the Roman Catholic Church for help, former Biden-era officials told USA TODAY.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
Expect emissaries from the ever-changing world of media.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Mountbatten-Windsor has vehemently denied any and all wrongdoing in his dealings with Epstein, and has denied any personal gain from his role as a British trade envoy.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
22 May 2026
-
Foreign leaders have condemned his on-camera treatment of the detainees and several countries summoned Israeli envoys to air their concerns.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
Footage showing kneeling detainees sparks outrage from Israel’s foreign minister, rights advocates and governments in Italy, Turkey and Greece, who accuse Israel of abuse, humiliation and damaging its international standing.—
Natalie Melzer,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2026
-
South Korea’s foreign minister said on Wednesday a Korean tanker was crossing the strait in cooperation with Iran.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
20 May 2026
Noun
-
Defense attorneys deny all the charges against him.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
-
He is represented by Authentic Talent and Literary Management, UTA and attorney Roger Pliakas.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plenipotentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plenipotentiary. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
