Thesaurus results for POTENTATES

potentates

noun

plural of potentate

as in rulers

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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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 potentates With 775 rooms, the palace also provides office space for the royal bureaucracy and hosts lavish state dinners for visiting presidents and potentates. — CBS News, 26 June 2026 Biden put this sentiment into action by working with Netanyahu despite serious moral and political failures in Gaza, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on NATO expansion, and with Gulf potentates on the region’s security architecture. — James Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for potentates

Noun

Oft referred to as the king and queen of Italian wine, Barolo and Barbaresco can truly reign together as co-rulers, especially when produced by those with a foot in each appellation.

— Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 2 Aug. 2026
For most of history, order was imposed from above because rulers did not trust ordinary people with power.

— Keith Krach, Fortune, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of rulers

Noun

According to the World Wildlife Fund, the overwintering areas covered by monarchs this year increased by 64 percent.

— Vann R. Newkirk II, The Atlantic, 28 July 2026
Opinions on voluntary abdication by reigning monarchs vary amongst the royal families of Europe, but there is precedent in Belgium.

— Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 27 July 2026

Definition of monarchs

Noun

The ushabtis were believed to accompany the kings to the afterlife in order to perform manual and agricultural labor on their behalf.

— Noraldin Jadat, Christian Science Monitor, 27 July 2026
He is loved as kings are loved, for their power and for their benevolence, and also for their distance.

— Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 24 July 2026

Definition of kings

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potentates

potential

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“Potentates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentates. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of potentates

noun

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