1
as in official
a person who holds a public office
the new governor made a vow that he would always remember why he was called a public servant
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in civil servant
a worker in a government agency
concerned that the new federal agency would just add another slew of public servants to the government payroll
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of public servant
Democratic Congressman Mike Thompson called LaMalfa an honorable public servant and recounted the two working together to deliver help for wildfire victims.
—
Steve Large, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
For a public servant who has not just dedicated their life, but often risked that life on behalf of his fellow Americans to have that privilege ripped from him for a petty and political reason is, at times, frankly, too much to bear.
—Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
Supporting a public servant does not mean surrendering your own identity.
—Sophia A. Nelson, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for public servant
Steve Large, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
For a public servant who has not just dedicated their life, but often risked that life on behalf of his fellow Americans to have that privilege ripped from him for a petty and political reason is, at times, frankly, too much to bear.
—Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 22 Jan. 2026
Supporting a public servant does not mean surrendering your own identity.
—Sophia A. Nelson, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for public servant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for public servant
Noun
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State officials who are defendants in the lawsuit denied restricting the detainees' access to their attorneys and said any protocols were in place for security reasons and to make sure there was sufficient staffing.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
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Justice Department officials have said protecting federal agents has become a priority amid rising confrontations during protests and enforcement actions.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Until 1946, most citizens seeking compensation for a negligent or wrongful act by a civil servant could get it only through a literal act of Congress, case by case.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
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Advertisement Even if its opponents see through the junta’s election, with some ethnic armed organizations denouncing the election, the vote could provide reassurance to its own ranks, civil servants, and supporters and shore up morale and discipline within the armed forces.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Taking on the city of Minneapolis in the George Floyd case was challenging, but Romanucci acknowledges this case – suing the United States government for the conduct of an immigration officer – is harder.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
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The officer grabs Pretti’s hand to bring it behind his back, and deploys the pepper spray canister again and then pushes Pretti away.—
Hannah Fingerhut,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Lakeside's previous police chief, who also served as mayor, Robert Gordanaire, was fired after he and his daughter, the town clerk, were indicted by a grand jury for selling vehicles belonging to the town and pocketing the profit.—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
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According to prosecutors, Trammell flashed a knife at a store clerk in the Morena neighborhood and then held a homeless man hostage at knifepoint.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Beyond potential political resistance, implementing the name changes saddles campus administrators with costly and time-consuming busywork, including updating legal documents, maps and physical signage.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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Hospital administrators immediately put Hannah in a secluded room with someone at the door to keep all visitors out.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Test your news knowledge with this week's Fox News Digital News Quiz, in which former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick faces a major snub, and Virginia Commonwealth University fires an employee after ICE videos.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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In an environment where most employees already lack the time or energy to do their jobs, treating responsiveness as a core leadership trait doesn’t create momentum.—
Dilan Gomih,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Tech giants flourish or falter based on their decisions to overhaul themselves, often leaving tens of thousands of workers to pay the price.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association workers, some of whom don't have power at their own homes, are working 16-hour days to restore electricity in Mississippi.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Goetz understood this disorder not as the product of scant civic resources or state retreat but rather as the result of liberal misrule—do-gooder bureaucrats, failed social programs, and a city that had coddled the undeserving and the criminal.—
Heather Ann Thompson,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
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The bureaucrats operating Obamacare couldn’t care less about the taxpayers footing the bill.—
Betsy McCaughey,
Boston Herald,
18 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Public servant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public%20servant. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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