as in ruler
one who rules over a people with a sole, supreme, and usually hereditary authority
Charles inherited the position of potentate of the Holy Roman Empire from his grandfather, as well that of king of Spain from his father
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Recent Examples of potentate
Maybe bringing in the charity will boost the power of a local potentate.
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Leif Wenar, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
In early-modern Europe, the Medicis and other potentates created what were the microfinance schemes of their time, lending small sums of money to poor citizens.
—Mark Malloch-Brown, Foreign Affairs, 15 Jan. 2024
Though often fraught in the execution in the abstract the position of Jews within pre-modern political units was not controversial; Jews were subjects with obligations, often a useful minority for potentates.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 6 June 2010
The result was that Hollywood sold its gems as costume jewelry, not through mercenary cynicism but because the studio potentates were no more aware of the enduring art being produced under their aegis than were critics or, for that matter, viewers.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for potentate 
Leif Wenar, WIRED, 27 Mar. 2024
In early-modern Europe, the Medicis and other potentates created what were the microfinance schemes of their time, lending small sums of money to poor citizens.
—Mark Malloch-Brown, Foreign Affairs, 15 Jan. 2024
Though often fraught in the execution in the abstract the position of Jews within pre-modern political units was not controversial; Jews were subjects with obligations, often a useful minority for potentates.
—Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 6 June 2010
The result was that Hollywood sold its gems as costume jewelry, not through mercenary cynicism but because the studio potentates were no more aware of the enduring art being produced under their aegis than were critics or, for that matter, viewers.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for potentate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potentate
Noun
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Iran’s rulers once claimed to offer an exportable Islamist model that could rival both capitalism and communism.Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
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Before December comes to a close, your celestial ruler, Venus, will also clash with Uranus in your sign, and things could get... well, interesting.Valerie Mesa, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
Noun
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But there’s one exception: Martin Van Buren — the only U.S. President of pure Dutch stock and with no ancestral connection to a British monarch.Liz McNeil, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024
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Dating back to the 17th century, the Palace of Versailles is one of France’s (if not the world’s) most iconic landmarks—a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located just outside of Paris, that has housed the most infamous monarchs in French history from Louis XIV to Marie Antoinette.Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The sovereign established the charity in 1990 to create improved communities where people, places and the planet can coexist.Janine Henni, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
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Increasingly, sovereigns are not renewing treaties or trying to change the terms to limit the circumstances in which claims may be brought.John Quinn, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near potentate
Cite this Entry
“Potentate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentate. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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