1
as in instrumentality
something used to achieve an end
the whitening agent in the detergent is chlorine bleach the Church has been the traditional agent for social justice in impoverished countries
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in deputy
a person who acts or does business for another
the sports agent negotiated a record-breaking contract for the baseball player
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in ambassador
a person sent on a mission to represent another
an undercover agent of the Crown
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in spy
a person who tries secretly to obtain information for one country in the territory of another usually unfriendly country
an agent feeding information about enemy troop movements
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of agent
The 60-year-old journalist was was taken into custody by federal agents in January after covering a protest that took place in a Minnesota church.
—
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Local real estate agents offer a preview.
—Lily O'Neill, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Apr. 2026
Eight of the nine defendants were arrested on the same day FBI agents raided Pooh Shiesty’s family home near Memphis.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
In other news related to the project, the involvement of French studio Pathé as a financier, distributor and sales agent has been revealed.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agent
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2026
Local real estate agents offer a preview.
—Lily O'Neill, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Apr. 2026
Eight of the nine defendants were arrested on the same day FBI agents raided Pooh Shiesty’s family home near Memphis.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 2 Apr. 2026
In other news related to the project, the involvement of French studio Pathé as a financier, distributor and sales agent has been revealed.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 2 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for agent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for agent
Noun
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They are left wielding the tools of instrumentality: in-groups and cliques, buying effort through more money, coercive employment agreements and suits against whistleblowers.—
Dave Winsborough,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
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Holding the weight of cotton’s influence on the world, and thus the instrumentality of Black labor, is painful, yet necessary work.—
Cierra Black,
Essence,
9 July 2025
Noun
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Victor Lemus was one of the three deputies killed while handling a grenade at a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department facility.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Her poetry offers a rare collection of literary introspection from within Miami-Dade County government, where Tallman works as chief of staff to a top deputy of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.—
Douglas Hanks
April 1,
Miami Herald,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Commercial conversations Earlier this month, the UK government convened a meeting of defense companies to meet ambassadors and defense attaches from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Iraq and Jordan.—
Kai Nicol-Schwarz,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
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Guess named the South Korean rapper, singer and member of the K-pop group Stray Kids its first global brand ambassador for both Guess and Guess Jeans brands earlier this month.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The film, which debuted on Netflix April 1, deploys a deliberately eccentric tone, mixing slapstick, satire and spy-thriller tropes with Das’ irreverent comedic sensibility.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
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When spy satellites first captured images of the Zitong network in 1971, US intelligence deemed the sites a gamechanger.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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About 7 million barrels per day of that loss is being made up through other means, like the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates and the release of strategic reserves, according to Kpler data.—
Victor Ordonez,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
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But Reich says philanthropy is still regularly used by people with means to cultivate their reputations.—
Katia Riddle,
NPR,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Perry's representative confirmed to USA TODAY on Tuesday that the workers were eventually allowed to hold onto the gift cards after confusion was cleared up.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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If Republicans are able to succeed in their efforts, Kansas City would be represented by three Republican representatives, two of whom would be freshmen.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Berset, along with delegates from around a dozen other nations, will officially sign the co-pro treaty into force at Series Mania.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
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Corderman proposed to Tuesday’s legislative work group of delegates and senators the transfer of some slot machines from six existing casinos.—
Bryan P. Sears,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The man who crashed an explosive-laden truck into a Michigan synagogue where scores of children were at daycare acted as an operative of Hezbollah, the foreign terrorist organization based in Lebanon, federal officials said March 30.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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An operative would normally plan to walk alone to a hotel room to avoid being seen with an asset.—
David D. Kirkpatrick,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Agent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/agent. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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