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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of functionary
MacDowell as first wife Ann is given just one scene to make an impression, as is Benanti as wife No. 2, but both these talented actors come off as more functionary against Keaton than truly three dimensional.
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Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2024
The teenage Reuss became the leader of an empire-wide socialist youth organization and was kicked out of school for attempting to recruit the son of a powerful conservative functionary.
—Tomas Weber, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
Hot guys could be found among the photographers, foreign journalists, and imposing functionaries of square jaw and evil hair.
—Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Many, but not all, of the pagers and walkie-talkies that unexpectedly blew up over two days across Lebanon and in some neighboring countries were in the possession of Hezbollah fighters, functionaries or allies.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for functionary 
Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2024
The teenage Reuss became the leader of an empire-wide socialist youth organization and was kicked out of school for attempting to recruit the son of a powerful conservative functionary.
—Tomas Weber, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2024
Hot guys could be found among the photographers, foreign journalists, and imposing functionaries of square jaw and evil hair.
—Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Many, but not all, of the pagers and walkie-talkies that unexpectedly blew up over two days across Lebanon and in some neighboring countries were in the possession of Hezbollah fighters, functionaries or allies.
—Willem Marx, NPR, 20 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for functionary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for functionary
Noun
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Ahead of the aerospace company are more ground tests and potential modifications to the vehicle to remedy its propulsion system woes and prepare it for routine spaceflight, NASA officials have said.Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2024
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Several solar panels behind Williams Elementary were damaged last week in a grass fire, according to fire officials.Lynn Kutter, arkansasonline.com, 18 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Einstein spends a year in Prague trying to shake out the problems in his theory of relativity and finds inspiration in the insurance bureaucrat Kafka, who is also finding his literary voice.Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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As the controversial New York bureaucrat and city planner, Fiennes strode and charged across a stage dominated by a map of the city, his body a metaphor for Moses’s ability to plow through forests and hills and villages and neighborhoods.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Police told the person to drop their weapon, but the individual pointed it at officers.Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
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Two other leaders — the lead state committeewoman, Grace Carrington, and the recording secretary, Aude M.L. Sicard, were reelected, along with five new officers.Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
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These images, which show the alleged shooter smiling at a hostel clerk in the Upper West Side of New York, have prompted further scrutiny from conspiracy theorists.Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024
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Sam’s Club: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Target: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. ULTA: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Victoria's Secret: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Walgreens: Varies by store Walmart: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Reach features news clerk Gege Reed at greed@courier-journal.com.Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, 13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The share of businesses planning to hire more workers increased by 3 points to 18%, the highest in a year.Lucia Mutikani, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
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Supporters say that this will boost workers’ rights and guard against exploitative work in Kenya’s data labeling sector, which is booming thanks to growing demand for AI training data.Billy Perrigo, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Officials said a customer at the McDonald’s recognized Mangione and notified an employee, who then called local police.Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
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World & Nation Police arrest man suspected in killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Dec. 9, 2024 Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pa. — about 230 miles west of New York City — after a McDonald’s customer recognized him and notified an employee, authorities said.Michael R. Sisak and Mark Scolforo, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Functionary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/functionary. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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