1
as in officials
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 servants
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 servants
But dismissing public servants as lazy, overpaid or uncaring ignores the reality of the people doing the work — and undermines our ability to attract the talent needed to govern well.
—
John Atkinson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The perpetrators were not children, but knowledgeable adults who willfully chose to harass public servants.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
All public servants have my respect and admiration.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Evans recently attended a protest outside the nation's Supreme Court, where public servants — including teachers and nurses — demanded wage increases after three years without a pay raise.
—Manuel Rueda, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Teachers, nurses, engineers, construction workers, hospitality staff, and public servants flow south and west into Orange and Seminole counties.
—Christopher Bellingham, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Lawmakers, judges and other public servants, all under groundless presidential attack.
—James D. Zirin, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
A number of other democracies require some public servants to retire at the age of 75.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
John Atkinson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The perpetrators were not children, but knowledgeable adults who willfully chose to harass public servants.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
All public servants have my respect and admiration.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Evans recently attended a protest outside the nation's Supreme Court, where public servants — including teachers and nurses — demanded wage increases after three years without a pay raise.
—Manuel Rueda, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Teachers, nurses, engineers, construction workers, hospitality staff, and public servants flow south and west into Orange and Seminole counties.
—Christopher Bellingham, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Lawmakers, judges and other public servants, all under groundless presidential attack.
—James D. Zirin, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
A number of other democracies require some public servants to retire at the age of 75.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for public servants
Noun
-
Peters was convicted of state crimes for sneaking in an outside computer expert to copy images of her county's election computer system before and after state officials updated it in 2021.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Many mullahs have become, in effect, civil servants in turbans.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
5 Mar. 2026
-
That’s why civil servants in national security, disaster relief and federal science have long taken pains to avoid the political fray.—
Michael Chertoff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The partial government shutdown has meant that TSA officers are working but without regular paychecks.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Authorities said Balat dropped the second device on the west side of East End Avenue, between East 86th and East 87th streets, before officers took Balat and Nikk into custody.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Staffers—from front desk employees to valet—never missed a beat and were full of helpful information both about the hotel, its offerings, and the surrounding area.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Every March, the first Friday is dedicated to appreciating employees by their employers and supervisors, a tradition that began in 1995.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
6 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Playing fast and loose with federal funds could reflect an issue within a singular agency — inadequate leadership, bad direction or rogue bureaucrats, for example.—
Steve Arentz,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Trump is the one person who can stop this proposal with one word to the federal bureaucrats who put forth this plan.—
Shane Weddle,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Steps from the Capitol's West Front and where the worst of the fighting occurred, workers quietly have installed a plaque honoring the officers, three years after it was required by law to be erected.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
-
In Kharkiv, in Ukraine's northeast, emergency workers were combing the rubble, looking for survivors.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Public servants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public%20servants. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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