1
as in officials
a person who holds a public office
the new governor made a vow that he would always remember why he was called a public servant
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in civil servants
a worker in a government agency
concerned that the new federal agency would just add another slew of public servants to the government payroll
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of public servants
Evans recently attended a protest outside the nation's Supreme Court, where public servants — including teachers and nurses — demanded wage increases after three years without a pay raise.
—
Manuel Rueda, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Teachers, nurses, engineers, construction workers, hospitality staff, and public servants flow south and west into Orange and Seminole counties.
—Christopher Bellingham, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Lawmakers, judges and other public servants, all under groundless presidential attack.
—James D. Zirin, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
A number of other democracies require some public servants to retire at the age of 75.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
The city has a dearth of public restrooms, which affects these public servants, too.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 19 Jan. 2026
As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law.
—Ava Kelley, NBC news, 19 Jan. 2026
Manuel Rueda, NPR, 10 Feb. 2026
Teachers, nurses, engineers, construction workers, hospitality staff, and public servants flow south and west into Orange and Seminole counties.
—Christopher Bellingham, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
Lawmakers, judges and other public servants, all under groundless presidential attack.
—James D. Zirin, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
A number of other democracies require some public servants to retire at the age of 75.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 22 Jan. 2026
As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 21 Jan. 2026
As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law.
—Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 20 Jan. 2026
The city has a dearth of public restrooms, which affects these public servants, too.
—Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 19 Jan. 2026
As public servants, you are dedicated to the rule of law.
—Ava Kelley, NBC news, 19 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for public servants
Noun
-
Former Vice President Kamala Harris did not attend the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing because the Biden administration did not send any diplomatic officials as a boycott over human rights concerns.—
MICHELLE L. PRICE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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As a politicized national fight over waste, fraud and abuse led by Republicans have targeted California and its Democratic leadership, Bonta and other state officials have moved swiftly to combat the claims.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
All told, the agency lost more than 17,000 civil servants through firings and resignations in 2025—including many scientific leaders at the FDA, CDC and NIH.—
Dan Vergano,
Scientific American,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Gezi gave way to crackdowns and an administrative witch hunt that saw thousands of academics, judges, journalists, lawyers, and civil servants jailed.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
If your complaint is accepted by the authority, an investigator will determine whether any laws, policies or procedures were broken by officers.—
Matthew Cupelli,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Metropolitan Police officers searched Mandelson's London home and another property linked to him on Friday.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
All other government employees are temporarily furloughed.—
Riley Beggin,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
To copy their methods and turn them back into employees.—
Paul Fischer,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
When Vance attended the annual Munich Security Conference as a first-term senator, in 2024, he got fed up with the European Union bureaucrats and took off early to reconnect with Dreher, who had come from Budapest, over beer and sausages.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
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That’s assuming state bureaucrats can even figure out the billionaires’ worth.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The workers seek health insurance, fairer wages and protection of their online content — rights that could set a precedent for the industry.—
Jessica Hill,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Texas should invest in workforce readiness so workers can adapt and compete without stifling innovation with premature regulation.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Public servants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public%20servants. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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