1
as in delegate
a person who acts or does business for another
a representative from the car dealership called to ask how we were enjoying the new car
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in ambassador
a person sent on a mission to represent another
I speak on this matter as a representative of the people of the U.S.
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in example
one of a group or collection that shows what the whole is like
this song is a fairly good representative of the other songs on the album
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in typical
having or showing the qualities associated with the members of a particular group or kind
a representative example of what that talented chef can do with even simple ingredients
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in symbolic
having the function or meaning of an object or figure that stands for something else
a red cross on this map is representative of a hospital or other medical facility
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 representative
Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 9 June 2026
The most recent poll has shown Schlossberg trailing New York state representatives Alex Bores and Micah Lasher in the heavily Democratic district.
—Juliet Pennington, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Similarly, the decor throughout the hotel—statues, artwork, and furniture from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America—is representative of their adventures.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for representative
Noun
Federal prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against Vance Boelter, the man charged in the 2025 fatal shooting of a Minnesota state representative and her husband, and another attack that left a second lawmaker and his wife wounded, according to a Department of Justice spokesperson.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 9 June 2026
The most recent poll has shown Schlossberg trailing New York state representatives Alex Bores and Micah Lasher in the heavily Democratic district.
—Juliet Pennington, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026
Adjective
Most recently, late neoliberalism revived a central aspect of 1970s pluralism, retooled as representative diversity—once again under the pressure of political activism, which reckoned with decades of racially exclusionary collecting, exhibiting, and hiring practices at art institutions.
—Katy Siegel, Artforum, 2 June 2026
Similarly, the decor throughout the hotel—statues, artwork, and furniture from Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America—is representative of their adventures.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for representative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for representative
Noun
-
Speaking between ballots, Tafoya repeatedly reminded delegates about the importance of winning the general election, while Schwarze encouraged them not to compromise their principles.—
Jay Gabler,
Twin Cities,
30 May 2026
-
Frederiksen said Tafoya's broadcasting career could be an asset in a primary race, though her appeal to convention delegates remains an open question.—
Liz Christy,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
To bring the concept to life, Zegna relocated a large team from Italy, including tailors, stylists, brand ambassadors and creative staff.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
8 June 2026
-
In a city best known for politics and international relations, perhaps the greatest ambassadors of all are the famous giant pandas, cared for by zookeepers like Mariel Lally.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Noun
-
There are two dogs, for example, in Bartholomeus van Bassen’s painting of an imagined church interior with the tomb of William the Silent (pictured above, 1620).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
The 1961 legislation establishing the Seashore saved the land from development and gave the public a pristine example of what the popular peninsula looked like before the Pilgrims arrived in Provincetown and before the birth of the nation.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
Once the Islander opened the door, in typical Love Island USA fashion, they were prompted to kiss the other islanders with common interests.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
9 June 2026
-
In the Veritasium video, Humphreys speculated that the Russians may have been testing the satellites’ GPS interference capabilities only briefly on a neighboring frequency adjacent to the typical GPS band.—
Jeremy Hsu,
ArsTechnica,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
But for the food historian, this is a marvelous insight into the symbolic role this particular item took on as the Renaissance gave way to the Reformation.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
-
Obviously, calls from Democratic politicians for Boutros’ resignation are merely symbolic.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Pritchard, who served as a deputy under multiple Yolo County supervisors and spent decades as a teacher, has the support of the Yolo County Business PAC, which backs pro-business candidates.—
Daniel Lempres,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
-
In fact, sheriff's deputies handcuffed a Black man accused of assaulting another Black man.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Miami Herald sources said Anido Cuesta, who lives in Spain, has been traveling to foreign nations lately as an unofficial envoy for his stepfather.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
-
However, this gradually fades as Rimbaud goes from an adventurous youth in London and Paris to a forward-thinking colonial envoy in Algeria decades later — a passage of time marked by theatrical lighting cues — and Draper’s performance turns inward, becoming meaningfully introspective.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Comparing Wemby to all-time greats may be premature given the limited sample size.—
Ramon Padilla,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
Nonbiological samples were usually sparser – that is, more strongly dominated by simple molecules.—
Gideon Yoffe,
The Conversation,
29 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Representative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/representative. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
