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
The school nurtured generations of students who went on to become educators, business leaders, public servants and community advocates.
—
Danita R. Dehaney, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Several House members noted the lasting impact the DHS shutdown will have on public servants.
—Arden Farhi, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Sullivan noted there’s almost two dozen former public servants running for office this cycle and said the group is planning to put out their first round of endorsements within the next week or two.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 23 Mar. 2026
As public servants, your first loyalty should be to public school students whose parents cannot afford private schools even with a voucher.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
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
Danita R. Dehaney, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Several House members noted the lasting impact the DHS shutdown will have on public servants.
—Arden Farhi, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Sullivan noted there’s almost two dozen former public servants running for office this cycle and said the group is planning to put out their first round of endorsements within the next week or two.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 23 Mar. 2026
As public servants, your first loyalty should be to public school students whose parents cannot afford private schools even with a voucher.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for public servants
Noun
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The best way to protect yourself during an earthquake is to drop, cover and hold on, officials say.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
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These achievements are linked to the longstanding work between the county, local providers and community partners, officials say.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Starting this week, state institutions, schools and universities, began to operate only four days a week, and civil servants are being ordered to work from home where possible.—
Chas Newkey-Burden,
TheWeek,
22 Mar. 2026
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Thailand has suspended overseas travel for civil servants and urged them to take stairs instead of elevators.—
Paul Wiseman,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Travelers said the long lines have been frustrating and are looking forward to TSA officers getting paid again.—
Eva Andersen,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Inside were the officers’ first assignments.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Police say that Marrero did taxes for multiple firms, managers, and employees.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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After a kind gesture to airport employees in Georgia didn't go as planned, Tyler Perry found a workaround.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Rheinmetall was an obvious place for bureaucrats to direct the Zeitenwende funds.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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Yet if the denial of a driver’s license is based on such arbitrary factors as a victim’s advocacy, or a defendant’s remorse, or public opinion, or the whims of state bureaucrats, the results are inconsistent.—
Rachel Swan,
San Francisco Chronicle,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And so the actor and filmmaker ended up donating $250,000 worth of Visa gift cards to TSA workers at the Atlanta airport on March 27.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Quintal, who was transported to Broward Health Medical Center with injuries along with Wilson, was placed on workers’ comp leave.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Public servants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public%20servants. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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