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
Or were all those billionaire potentates in the Capitol Rotunda — seated in front of Trump’s Cabinet picks — asserting their social, economic and cultural hegemony?
—
Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
A number of sports potentates will be making the Idaho scene, at a moment when tens of billions of dollars are changing hands in pursuit of ever-valuable rights.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 10 July 2024
This was a violin in full command of its considerable powers, a violin capable of enchanting the most powerful potentate in the land and persuading him to do its bidding.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2024
This must remain a country that rejects princes or potentates.
—Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for potentate
Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025
A number of sports potentates will be making the Idaho scene, at a moment when tens of billions of dollars are changing hands in pursuit of ever-valuable rights.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 10 July 2024
This was a violin in full command of its considerable powers, a violin capable of enchanting the most powerful potentate in the land and persuading him to do its bidding.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2024
This must remain a country that rejects princes or potentates.
—Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 9 Jan. 2024
See All Example Sentences for potentate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for potentate
Noun
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Princess Mako, a niece of Japan's Emperor Naruhito (and whose younger brother is the likely next ruler of Japan), married her longtime love, Kei Komuro, in a simple ceremony at a registry office on Oct. 26, 2021.—
Alex Apatoff,
People.com,
15 July 2025
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In 2019, during the first Trump administration, the State Department invoked a similar authority under the budget act to impose visa sanctions on Raúl Castro, the island's ultimate ruler, and his sons and daughters.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
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The reigning monarch would get the final say in granting approval to a club.—
Mike Fore,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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Biya came to power in 1982 and has remained in office for more than four decades, becoming one of the globe’s longest-serving heads of state, excluding monarchs.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
14 July 2025
Noun
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The situation is made more challenging by the fact that our taxpayer also functions as the head a foreign sovereign — the Holy See.—
Robert Goulder,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
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The address marks only the second time in Canadian history that the reigning sovereign has opened parliament, and the third time that the British monarch has delivered the Speech from the Throne.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Potentate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/potentate. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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