potentates

Definition of potentatesnext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 potentates 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
  • Kurds make up about a tenth of Iran’s population, and the ethnic group’s other national factions in Iraq and Syria have allied with the US in prior decades to fight those countries’ rulers.
    Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 5 Mar. 2026
  • The exhibition showcases more than 60 objects made of silver, gold, enamel and precious jewels from several European monarchs and rulers to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
    Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The exhibition showcases more than 60 objects made of silver, gold, enamel and precious jewels from several European monarchs and rulers to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem.
    Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Expecting a population raised under monarchs and mullahs to improvise a constitutional republic on short notice may be less strategy and more wishful thinking.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • All kings and tyrants fail in the end.
    Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
  • As the mind behind Yellowstone, Taylor Sheridan has been hailed as one of the kings of modern Westerns, and this propulsive crime thriller is one of his essential watches.
    Sezin Devi Keohler, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Potentates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentates. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

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