as in ruler
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority
Charles inherited the position of potentate of the Holy Roman Empire from his grandfather, as well that of king of Spain from his father
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Recent Examples of potentate
Or were all those billionaire potentates in the Capitol Rotunda — seated in front of Trump’s Cabinet picks — asserting their social, economic and cultural hegemony?
—
Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
This was a violin in full command of its considerable powers, a violin capable of enchanting the most powerful potentate in the land and persuading him to do its bidding.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2024
In early-modern Europe, the Medicis and other potentates created what were the microfinance schemes of their time, lending small sums of money to poor citizens.
—Mark Malloch-Brown, Foreign Affairs, 15 Jan. 2024
This must remain a country that rejects princes or potentates.
—Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for potentate
Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
This was a violin in full command of its considerable powers, a violin capable of enchanting the most powerful potentate in the land and persuading him to do its bidding.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2024
In early-modern Europe, the Medicis and other potentates created what were the microfinance schemes of their time, lending small sums of money to poor citizens.
—Mark Malloch-Brown, Foreign Affairs, 15 Jan. 2024
This must remain a country that rejects princes or potentates.
—Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for potentate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potentate
Noun
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Over in India, French strategists succeeded in forging a pivotal new anti-British alliance with Haidar Ali, the Muslim ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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More recently, Waleed Al-Ibrahim was temporarily detained under orders of current de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman as part of a 2018 corruption probe.—
Deena Sabry,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Sandringham has been the private home of five generations of British monarchs for over 150 years.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Oct. 2025
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The negotiations to get to this stage will have been challenging but the monarch had no option but to engage damage control mode.—
Max Foster,
CNN Money,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The royal family has a rich history with the military, and the sovereign always leads the nation at the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph war memorial in London, a solemn event that working royal family members typically attend.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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Knighthoods, conferred by the sovereign, represent one of the highest forms of national recognition for service and excellence.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Potentate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentate. Accessed 23 Nov. 2025.
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