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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of functionary
These latest comments came from party functionaries rather than civilians, and as such have made Modi and the BJP directly accountable for the noticeable rise in Islamophobia in India.
—
Sumit Ganguly, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2022
Competent functionaries mostly belonged to other political camps.
—Kaya Genc, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019
The group’s materiel and manpower have been distributed across various security agencies, where they are managed by functionaries who are more loyal and less ambitious.
—Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2024
Everyone else, from cabinet members to party functionaries, is kept on a long leash.
—Constanze Stelzenmüller, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for functionary
Sumit Ganguly, Foreign Affairs, 30 June 2022
Competent functionaries mostly belonged to other political camps.
—Kaya Genc, Foreign Affairs, 12 Aug. 2019
The group’s materiel and manpower have been distributed across various security agencies, where they are managed by functionaries who are more loyal and less ambitious.
—Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2024
Everyone else, from cabinet members to party functionaries, is kept on a long leash.
—Constanze Stelzenmüller, Foreign Affairs, 20 Apr. 2021
See All Example Sentences for functionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functionary
Noun
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The reasons for Patel's removal have not been made clear, and the change was only communicated to senior ATF officials on Wednesday.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
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No new trade deals have been reached, although administration officials said negotiations are underway.—
Time,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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That is complicit with scheming orchestrated by politicized bureaucrats.—
Jack Fowler,
National Review,
7 Apr. 2025
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All of this was done in consultation with the people who understood the problems best, putting faith in the expertise of top bureaucrats to build a better mousetrap.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Chamberlain said only law enforcement officers testifying or those there on official capacity, like courtroom security, could wear uniforms.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2025
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Arriving officers found one man outside who had called 911 to report the shooting, police said.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In its second phase, the website will host career pathways for 30 job titles, including wholesale sales representatives, security guards, shipping and inventory clerks and even human resources specialists.—
Maria Gracia Santillana Linares,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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The judge in the case was another Floridian, a former justice of the peace, clerk of the court, and lawyer whose appointment was given the stamp of approval by Tallahassee newspapers.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Kennedy's home purchase comes amid his major restructuring of the department that laid off 10,000 workers on Tuesday across the nation's public health agencies, including laboratory scientists, support staff for food safety inspectors and worker safety researchers.—
Carol Ross Joynt,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2025
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The Department of Government Efficiency’s actions weren’t expected to have a big impact just yet: While nearly 300,000 job cuts have been announced, not all federal workers were laid off immediately, so the impact to the labor market and unemployment is going to be a slow drip.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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When an employee misses the mark, avoid making assumptions about their capabilities or motivation.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Narciso Gallardo Fernandez, 30, is accused of shooting a Walgreens employee, Erick Velasquez, 34, earlier this week, the Madera Police Department told USA Today.—
Lesley Cosme Torres,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Functionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functionary. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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