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

Mercury, your ruler, moves through your 6th House and quincunxes Saturn in your 11th, revealing friction between everyday responsibilities and what friends, groups, or future plans are asking from you.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Oct. 2026
As Silverhand’s consciousness begins overwriting V’s own, the two must work together to separate from each other and save V’s life by confronting the Arasaka Corporation, a powerful megacorporation acting as the de facto ruler of the city.

— Justin Kroll, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of ruler

Noun

Court dances fell out of fashion as monarchs fell from power.

— Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Using community science, participants will find out ways to contribute to monarch conservation, learning about their ecology, life cycle, migration, habitat and more.

— Pedro Moura, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of monarch

Noun

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
Against encroaching social upheavals, the sovereign was resolutely the center of a mercantilist universe.

— Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of sovereign

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“Potentate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentate. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of potentate

noun

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