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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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
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Woody and Buzz have survived sadistic neighbors, evil toys and tyrannical daycare rulers.
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Jones said Shiite rulers in several South Asian kingdoms sponsored processions and other commemorations of Hussein’s martyrdom, helping turn them into public events that drew wider audiences.
Noun
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With this decision, the king bucks 189 years of tradition, as monarchs have lived in the palace since 1837, when Queen Victoria began her reign.
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How long have British monarchs lived at Buckingham Palace?
Noun
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For virtually all of human history, people were subjects of kings or rulers who claimed divine and unquestioned power.
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The New York Knicks, comeback kings to the end, roared back from 16 points down in Game 5 to beat the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 to seal their first NBA title in 53 years, kicking off raucous celebrations among A-listers in the arena in San Antonio and fans in the streets back in New York.
Cite this Entry
“Potentates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentates. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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