1
2
as in bureaucrat
a worker in a government agency the faceless functionaries at the Internal Revenue Service

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples 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 Hezbollah handed these pagers out among its militant operatives as well as its civilian functionaries, the group told NPR. Daniel Estrin, NPR, 18 Sep. 2024 Imagine a judiciary more fully stocked with people loyal to Trump’s politics, working alongside a government bureaucracy rebuilt to accommodate more political functionaries. Philip Bump, Washington Post, 15 July 2024 One other thing: The functionary pushing to give industry more freedom to pollute was Reagan’s Environmental Protection Agency administrator, the late Anne Gorsuch. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2024 Government functionaries, including the lawyers sitting on the court, seem to have little idea how businesses look at things. John Seiler, Orange County Register, 26 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for functionary 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functionary
Noun
  • In Oklahoma, the state's top education official has tried to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for children in fifth through 12th grades.
    Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 23 Nov. 2024
  • Hegseth is viewed as a surprise pick for the role, which typically goes to people with experience as senior military officials.
    Graham Kates, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • In July 2007, José Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission (Brussels’ top bureaucrat) said rather a lot of the quiet part aloud.
    Andrew Stuttaford, National Review, 31 Oct. 2024
  • The idea that France or the United Kingdom would allow another state—let alone some unelected bureaucrat in the European Union—to dictate their nuclear postures is fanciful.
    Sumantra Maitra, Foreign Affairs, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • An officer pointed a gun at the second man and ordered him to lie on the ground on his stomach with his hands behind his back, body camera footage showed.
    Perry Vandell, The Arizona Republic, 22 Nov. 2024
  • The city of Uvalde on Tuesday released an additional collection of videos and investigative materials showing law enforcement officers' flawed response to the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in May 2022, when a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers.
    Tony Plohetski, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Instead, thank your local county clerk for enduring four years of unfair accusations and conducting the 2024 election efficiently and effectively.
    Krista Kafer, The Denver Post, 11 Nov. 2024
  • In York County, all the challenges — 354 — were denied Monday by the elections board, but chief clerk Greg Monskie said the board agreed to keep those ballots segregated during a period in which an appeal can be made.
    Mark Scolforo, Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Sometime later, a passing pipeline company worker pulled the vehicle from the ditch.
    Ryan J. Foley, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
  • The company issued a follow-up notification at 10:41 a.m. that workers responded to a vapor release while performing maintenance on equipment.
    Noelle Phillips, The Denver Post, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Cruise’s cooperation included remedial measures such as ensuring that employees identified as responsible for the falsified report are no longer employed by the firm.
    Jason Green, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
  • The company has two full-time employees and is supported by a Board of Advisors from various sectors to guide its business strategy.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near functionary

Cite this Entry

“Functionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functionary. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on functionary

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!