1
as in official
a person who holds a public office
spoke to high-ranking functionaries at the embassy in the hopes that they could help
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2
as in bureaucrat
a worker in a government agency
the faceless functionaries at the Internal Revenue Service
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of functionary
MacDowell as first wife Ann is given just one scene to make an impression, as is Benanti as wife No. 2, but both these talented actors come off as more functionary against Keaton than truly three dimensional.
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Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2024
The teenage Reuss became the leader of an empire-wide socialist youth organization and was kicked out of school for attempting to recruit the son of a powerful conservative functionary.
—Tomas Weber, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
Hot guys could be found among the photographers, foreign journalists, and imposing functionaries of square jaw and evil hair.
—Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Many, but not all, of the pagers and walkie-talkies that unexpectedly blew up over two days across Lebanon and in some neighboring countries were in the possession of Hezbollah fighters, functionaries or allies.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for functionary 
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2024
The teenage Reuss became the leader of an empire-wide socialist youth organization and was kicked out of school for attempting to recruit the son of a powerful conservative functionary.
—Tomas Weber, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
Hot guys could be found among the photographers, foreign journalists, and imposing functionaries of square jaw and evil hair.
—Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Many, but not all, of the pagers and walkie-talkies that unexpectedly blew up over two days across Lebanon and in some neighboring countries were in the possession of Hezbollah fighters, functionaries or allies.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for functionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functionary
Noun
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Ahead of the aerospace company are more ground tests and potential modifications to the vehicle to remedy its propulsion system woes and prepare it for routine spaceflight, NASA officials have said.Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
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Several solar panels behind Williams Elementary were damaged last week in a grass fire, according to fire officials.Lynn Kutter, arkansasonline.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Federal bureaucrats dragged their feet on school reopening, then sat on their hands after school closures advocated by national teachers unions erased two decades of learning improvement.Erika Donalds, The Mercury News, 19 Dec. 2024
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Millennial comedians let rotten bureaucrats go unprotested.Armond White, National Review, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Police told the person to drop their weapon, but the individual pointed it at officers.Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
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But in the meantime, John Idol, Capri’s chief executive officer and chairman, has gone into overdrive and is overseeing changes at Michael Kors personally.Evan Clark, WWD, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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After a November qualifying period, other candidates challenged a decision by the city clerk that Wyly, Wester, Bedford, Irving-Mills and Lawson had properly qualified to appear on the ballot.Jim Saunders, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Dec. 2024
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Closures include the Supreme Court of Maryland, the Appellate Court of Maryland, the circuit courts, the District Court of Maryland, the Orphans’ Courts and the offices of the clerks of court.Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Honda has more than 23,000 workers at 12 factories in the U.S., while Nissan has some 15,000 workers at three plants here.Nathan Bomey, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
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The lawsuit is the latest in a slew of actions the CFPB has taken against companies for mishandling consumer and worker financial accounts.Kristian Burt, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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State services offered online will remain available and state employees will work remotely where possible.Craig Shoup, The Tennessean, 22 Dec. 2024
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The solution lies in prioritizing employee growth and well-being.Rhett Power, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Functionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functionary. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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