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as in bureaucrat
a worker in a government agency the faceless functionaries at the Internal Revenue Service

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 functionary Everyone else, from cabinet members to party functionaries, is kept on a long leash. Constanze Stelzenmüller, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021 Think about your last price negotiation—with a car dealer, a potential new hire's salary demands or your least favorite procurement functionary. Danny Ertel, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024 Thousands of operatives and functionaries are wounded. Daniel Estrin, NPR, 18 Sep. 2024 Geoffrey Mason was barely 30, a control-room functionary working a down day at the 1972 Munich Olympics, when history called on a push-button phone. Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for functionary 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functionary
Noun
  • Trump officials slam New York judge Several Trump administration officials criticized Engelmayer’s decision Sunday.
    Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2025
  • The scam email, which appears to come from Costco, is actually an attempt to steal financial information or gain access to computers, officials said.
    Bay City News Service, The Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • From an early age, she was involved in the wider world, dealing with professionals and bureaucrats, seeing and negotiating the practicalities of power, while also shaping her technique, forming her ideas, and expanding her realm of experience.
    Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2025
  • Politicians, bureaucrats and geo-political analysis are nowhere to be seen in a screenplay that’s pro-military without getting too jingoistic.
    Richard Kuipers, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The officer approached the man, identified as Espinoza, for questioning, the bureau said.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2025
  • Haider said Abdul suspects that the letter likely came from someone who lives in the same apartment complex on Jan. 24, days before federal immigration officers carried out arrests in Chicago and the suburbs.
    Richard Requena, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • The robbery occurred about 7:15 p.m. when a man with a pistol took about $60 from Richard Caldwell, 22, the 7-Eleven clerk.
    The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, arkansasonline.com, 5 Feb. 2025
  • Police suspect the 13-year-old then fatally shot the clerk.
    Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Children, veterans, active-duty military personnel, front-line workers and medical personnel can enter for free.
    Genevieve Redsten, Journal Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2025
  • The bureau sued financial services companies for misleading consumers and employers for misleading workers.
    Cora Lewis, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Adding to his troubles, Ye was hit with a lawsuit this week from a former Yeezy employee alleging discrimination, harassment and retaliation based on gender and her Jewish identity.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 14 Feb. 2025
  • What Zuckerberg didn’t say in his five-minute monologue was that Meta would use its own internal moderators to censor employee criticism of his plan.
    Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near functionary

Cite this Entry

“Functionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functionary. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

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