Thesaurus results for POTENTATE

potentate

noun

ˈpō-tᵊn-ˌtāt

Definition of potentate

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of potentate The game is a playground for Russian oligarchs, Middle Eastern potentates, and Latin American strongmen—his people. — Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 7 Apr. 2026 Biden put this sentiment into action by working with Netanyahu despite serious moral and political failures in Gaza, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on NATO expansion, and with Gulf potentates on the region’s security architecture. — James Jeffrey, Foreign Affairs, 13 Nov. 2025 Why don’t all the rich potentates, sheiks, oligarchs and MAGA dictators meet and fix it? — Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025 But in his mid-80s, King George ponders whether to abdicate and devote his remaining days to finding female companionship (the aging potentate remains potent with the help of Viagra and similar pharmaceuticals). — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 5 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for potentate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for potentate

Noun

To varying degrees, respondents in these countries—Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Saudia Arabia, and Turkey—expressed an increasing preference for liberal values, even as their rulers sought to suppress popular demands for democratic change.

— Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
The second find consists of part of a statue of a royal personage along with its head, which was adorned with the striped cloth associated with ancient Egyptian rulers.

— Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of ruler

Noun

Princess Rajwa, therefore, is a first cousin twice removed of the nation’s monarch, King Salman.

— Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 17 Oct. 2026
The trip marks the first visit by a Spanish monarch to the two cities since Felipe's father, Juan Carlos I, toured them in 2007.

— JOSEPH WILSON, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of monarch

Noun

The Crown Estate is an independent company established by Parliament to manage a vast portfolio of properties throughout the United Kingdom that is nominally owned by the sovereign during his lifetime but is operated for the benefit of taxpayers.

— Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Only three African sovereigns hold investment grade ratings, according to a background note from the AU’s African Peer Review Mechanism (ARPM).

— Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of sovereign

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“Potentate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of potentate

noun

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