as in ambassador
technical
a person (such as a diplomat) who has complete power to do business for a government
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Recent Examples of plenipotentiary
All empires have, like the Roman Empire, been… The American System and the World Organization
On the day our plenipotentiaries exchange their full powers, an immortal date will be inscribed in American diplomatic history.
—
Ezequiel Padilla, Foreign Affairs, 10 Sep. 2024
These succeeded to the extent that a meeting was brought about in 1880 between plenipotentiaries of the three belligerents and the American Ministers accredited to those countries on board an American naval vessel in the harbor of Arica.
—Edwin M. Borchard, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2011
The hope of students of Latin-American affairs that the present protocol marks the termination of this bitter controversy may be somewhat tempered by the realization that this is not the first time that a protocol of adjustment has been signed by plenipotentiaries.
—Edwin M. Borchard, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2011
Walpole’s most frequent correspondent was Horace Mann, the British plenipotentiary in Florence, Italy.
—Catherine Ostler, WSJ, 15 Apr. 2022
Then came Bob, the king of Thailand’s valet plenipotentiary.
—Alejandro Varela, Harper's magazine, 16 Sep. 2019
Morris was eventually the United States’ plenipotentiary to France and spent years afterward touring Europe and having affairs there.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 4 June 2019
Ezequiel Padilla, Foreign Affairs, 10 Sep. 2024
These succeeded to the extent that a meeting was brought about in 1880 between plenipotentiaries of the three belligerents and the American Ministers accredited to those countries on board an American naval vessel in the harbor of Arica.
—Edwin M. Borchard, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2011
The hope of students of Latin-American affairs that the present protocol marks the termination of this bitter controversy may be somewhat tempered by the realization that this is not the first time that a protocol of adjustment has been signed by plenipotentiaries.
—Edwin M. Borchard, Foreign Affairs, 7 Oct. 2011
Walpole’s most frequent correspondent was Horace Mann, the British plenipotentiary in Florence, Italy.
—Catherine Ostler, WSJ, 15 Apr. 2022
Then came Bob, the king of Thailand’s valet plenipotentiary.
—Alejandro Varela, Harper's magazine, 16 Sep. 2019
Morris was eventually the United States’ plenipotentiary to France and spent years afterward touring Europe and having affairs there.
—Michael Brendan Dougherty, National Review, 4 June 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plenipotentiary
Noun
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As for other content throughout the season, Love Island Australia star Callum Hole and Love Island USA alum Cely Vasquez will be serving as social ambassadors.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
3 June 2025
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Johnson wore a sleek strapless Ferragamo look on Thursday for an event celebrating her new role as a Roberto Coin global ambassador.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
3 June 2025
Noun
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Ostensibly in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea imposed the harshest lockdowns on the planet; even its diplomats were sealed off from foreign contact.—
John Delury,
Foreign Affairs,
3 June 2025
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Following the speech, the European Union’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas pushed back at Hegseth’s comment that European countries should focus their defense efforts in their own region and leave the Indo-Pacific more to the U.S.—
Tara Copp,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
Noun
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The aspiring restaurateur accidentally sells his soul to the devil for a PR blitz that includes a foodie magazine cover story – and the devil's emissary, Elias Woodstone (Matt Walsh), is trying to kill Jay to expedite the soul-collecting process.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
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According to Mathis, Moore soon became his emissary, collecting money from people who had borrowed from him.—
Doc Louallen,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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However, papal legates—diplomatic representatives—continue their external functions.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Apr. 2025
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In the 1520s Thomas Wolsey, Cardinal legate of England, drove forward a similar program of moral and financial reform, winding up a further 29 monasteries.—
Crawford Gribben,
WSJ,
29 Apr. 2022
Noun
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Pro-Russian Telegram channels have expressed anger at the lack of protection at the sites, but the comments by Trump and his envoy will add to anticipation over what Putin will do in response.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
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The delegation also met with Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, on Tuesday.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
4 June 2025
Noun
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The Kyiv Independent reported that Russia’s foreign minister reiterated that no deal would be considered without committing to NATO halting eastward expansion, which would prevent Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova from ever entering the alliance.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
29 May 2025
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His post-ambassadorial career included serving as Sweden’s foreign minister and a number of senior positions at the United Nations: president of the General Assembly, special envoy to Darfur, Sudan, and deputy secretary-general.—
John T. Shaw,
Chicago Tribune,
26 May 2025
Noun
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If any inmates were denied parole because of the faulty tests, they could be owed a new hearing before the parole board, said attorneys representing inmates affected by the defective drug tests.—
Salvador Hernandez,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2025
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Separately, attorneys for the families of victims of the shootings at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown in 2012 filed a civil lawsuit under a different provision of the law concerning unfair trade practices.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
31 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plenipotentiary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plenipotentiary. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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