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
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 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
James Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potentates
Noun
-
The inscriptions include his throne, birth names of the Pharaoh, who is also known as Sesostris III, and was one of the most prominent rulers of Egypt’s Middle Kingdom.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
-
Olivia Rodrigo, Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber, BTS superstar Jung Kook and South Korean girl group Blackpink have all amassed a trio of rulers thus far, and any of them may score one more soon, changing this order again.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
Other beneficial plants for adult monarchs include zinnias, asters, coneflowers, and bee balm.—
Nishaa Sharma,
The Spruce,
28 May 2026
-
The elegant 2-inch-long black and orange lepidopterans aren’t monarchs, but California tortoiseshell butterflies.—
Paul Rogers,
Mercury News,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Arsenal are the kings of marginal games, beating their opponents with physicality, pressing and defensive possession.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
-
Out of college at the University of Nebraska, Hendy had worked a white-collar job with Union Pacific before following the lure of the automobile to Denver, where a boyhood friend who had bicycled off in search of fortune had wound up as one of the first automotive kings of the West.—
Eric Moskowitz,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Potentates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentates. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
