as in ruler
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority
Charles inherited the position of potentate of the Holy Roman Empire from his grandfather, as well that of king of Spain from his father
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Recent Examples of potentate
This was a violin in full command of its considerable powers, a violin capable of enchanting the most powerful potentate in the land and persuading him to do its bidding.
—
Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2024
This must remain a country that rejects princes or potentates.
—Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Jan. 2024
Maybe bringing in the charity will boost the power of a local potentate.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
In early-modern Europe, the Medicis and other potentates created what were the microfinance schemes of their time, lending small sums of money to poor citizens.
—Mark Malloch-Brown, Foreign Affairs, 15 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for potentate
Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2024
This must remain a country that rejects princes or potentates.
—Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Jan. 2024
Maybe bringing in the charity will boost the power of a local potentate.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
In early-modern Europe, the Medicis and other potentates created what were the microfinance schemes of their time, lending small sums of money to poor citizens.
—Mark Malloch-Brown, Foreign Affairs, 15 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for potentate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potentate
Noun
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But in the eyes of Egypt’s rulers after the 1952 revolution, economic development was the real key to modernity.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
21 Feb. 2025
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Now, she's passed the Queen of Pop's 12 rulers, establishing herself as the female act with the greatest number of No. 1s.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes,
20 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Depending on the documentation, the monarch only ruled over ancient Egypt for 13 years (1493-1479 BCE) at most, and possibly as little as three (1482-1479 BCE).—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
19 Feb. 2025
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Various monarchs of the Russian Empire repeatedly tried to conquer Finland.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The crux of the problem is that the Constitution explicitly grants power to both federal and state governments – but the founders did not specify what to do if the two sovereigns disagree or how any ensuing struggle should be resolved.—
Claire B. Wofford,
The Conversation,
27 Jan. 2025
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The sovereign visited his daughter-in-law before his own procedure, and they were discharged a few days apart.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
17 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Potentate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentate. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.
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