potentate
7
9.4
- noun
- /ˈpoʊtənˌteɪt/
- Formal
:
potentado
- The local potentate made decisions that affected the lives of everyone in the kingdom.
- Greek potentate
It's bad for the Middle Eastern potentates.
- It's bad for the Middle Eastern potentates.
Examples
-
I remember a certain potentate whose last party was talked about for centuries.
-
The potentate himself wanted to know how quickly the computers could be installed.
Fiction book (2000) -
What do you suppose the potentate of this encampment calls himself?
-
"Is this activity largely centered in the Midwest and East Coast?" the potentate asked.
Fiction book (1998) -
The King, that flower of chivalry, that prince of monarchs, that paragon of potentates, is going to speak.
-
During the festival, the potentate ordered a grand feast to showcase his power.
-
Many subjects feared the potentate's wrath if they opposed his rule.
Synonyms
218
4.2
A ruler with complete power who often takes control by force and ignores the law
153
2.1
A person who has power over a country or its people
41
5.1
A king or queen who rules a country and usually gets the job by birth
40
7.2
A king or queen who rules a country and gets the position from their family
19
7.7
A ruler who has all power and treats people cruelly
1
9.9
A ruler who has almost total power and controls others
A person who has power to rule a city or region
A powerful person in a local area who controls people or decisions
Compounds
How Powerful
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word potentate comes from the Latin word potens, meaning 'powerful', and it shares the same root as the English word potent. So a potentate is a ruler with great power, often not limited by laws or rules.