public servants

plural of public servant
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

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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

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 public servants The researchers interviewed public servants about the ethical concerns the new law will bring to their work. Claudia Ciobanu, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026 On April 1, as thousands more public servants were fired as part of a massive HHS reorganization, Klote heard from someone in human resources. Megan Molteni, STAT, 5 June 2026 Many public servants live and work in the capital city, Wellington. ABC News, 18 May 2026 Thousands of public servants have been redirected from their usual responsibilities to World Cup duty. Henry Grabar, The Atlantic, 12 May 2026 To be honest, this risk goes also to nurses, policemen, teachers, doctors, public servants. Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 9 May 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for public servants
Noun
  • Federal immigration officials are urging New York authorities not to release a 59-year-old Salvadoran national accused of raping a 16-year-old girl on Long Island, warning that he should be turned over to ICE if released from local custody.
    Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
  • But recently, public health officials have raised alarms about a component of the leaf called 7-hydroxymitragynine, also known as 7-OH, an alkaloid that has the potential for abuse and addiction in high doses.
    Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • His government has even started requiring civil servants to ditch Zoom and Microsoft Teams for a homegrown video conference system.
    ABC News, ABC News, 17 June 2026
  • The legislative process has set long-term agency priorities, and civil servants at the agencies have carried them out.
    Mark Histed, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • Upon arrival, officers found an unresponsive 28-year-old man in the street with multiple gunshot wounds to the body.
    Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 14 June 2026
  • Fans flooded the area near the Garden, where NYPD officers in riot gear moved in to disperse large crowds.
    C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • In an effort combat the algae in the Reflecting Pool, employees of the National Park Service were seen pouring in gallons of hydrogen peroxide, a chemical commonly used in pool maintenance.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 June 2026
  • Families visiting downtown, workers commuting home, residents of every background, restaurant employees finishing late shifts, ride-share drivers and visitors all have a legitimate interest in being able to safely access Chicago’s lakefront and downtown areas.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 19 June 2026
Noun
  • There is an unmistakable feeling that a great mass of fans are priced out, or fenced out, while wealthy sponsors and venal bureaucrats get the benefits.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 13 June 2026
  • Getting foreign streamers to support local content creators so Canadians could view their own films and TV shows rather than rely on Netflix and Prime Video for popular fare may have seemed a good idea among bureaucrats and regulators in Ottawa.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Courts are also deciding lawsuits over whether workers were illegally fired in retaliation for doing their jobs under previous administrations.
    Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 14 June 2026
  • Much of his business relies on workers from India, which is home to 73% of H-1B visa holders, according to 2023 numbers from the Pew Research Center.
    Shanelle Kaul, CBS News, 14 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Public servants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public%20servants. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.

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