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
None of the remaining candidates across either party have presented a compelling vision or demonstrated sufficient credibility and trustworthiness to inspire voter confidence, with all candidates appearing primarily as ambitious contenders rather than public servants.
—
Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The school nurtured generations of students who went on to become educators, business leaders, public servants and community advocates.
—Danita R. Dehaney, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Several House members noted the lasting impact the DHS shutdown will have on public servants.
—Arden Farhi, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Sullivan noted there’s almost two dozen former public servants running for office this cycle and said the group is planning to put out their first round of endorsements within the next week or two.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 23 Mar. 2026
As public servants, your first loyalty should be to public school students whose parents cannot afford private schools even with a voucher.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
But dismissing public servants as lazy, overpaid or uncaring ignores the reality of the people doing the work — and undermines our ability to attract the talent needed to govern well.
—John Atkinson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The perpetrators were not children, but knowledgeable adults who willfully chose to harass public servants.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
All public servants have my respect and admiration.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
The school nurtured generations of students who went on to become educators, business leaders, public servants and community advocates.
—Danita R. Dehaney, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
Several House members noted the lasting impact the DHS shutdown will have on public servants.
—Arden Farhi, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
Sullivan noted there’s almost two dozen former public servants running for office this cycle and said the group is planning to put out their first round of endorsements within the next week or two.
—Caroline Vakil, The Hill, 23 Mar. 2026
As public servants, your first loyalty should be to public school students whose parents cannot afford private schools even with a voucher.
—Arkansas Online, 16 Mar. 2026
But dismissing public servants as lazy, overpaid or uncaring ignores the reality of the people doing the work — and undermines our ability to attract the talent needed to govern well.
—John Atkinson, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2026
The perpetrators were not children, but knowledgeable adults who willfully chose to harass public servants.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
All public servants have my respect and admiration.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for public servants
Noun
-
In contrast to concerns about an immigration crackdown in the United States ahead of the World Cup, Canadian officials speaking at the FIFA Congress stressed the nation’s diversity.—
Anne M. Peterson,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Senators voted on April 30 to restrict themselves from prediction markets as there is an increasing concern of insider trading by government officials, CNBC reports.—
William Earl,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Judge Jesse Furman decided the case belongs with him because Comey was fired pursuant to the president's executive authority and not the usual procedures for civil servants.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The firm recruits tenants from the State Attorney’s Office, police and fire departments, and hospitals, and 70% of residents are civil servants, the partners say.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The officers had transported the suspect, who had been arrested on suspicion of robbery, to the hospital for observation.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Investigators said Perera Nuñez failed to stop when approached by officers, got out of his car, and ran, prompting a large search involving the Florida Highway Patrol and Homeland Security.—
Nikiya Carrero,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Spirit’s thousands of employees have lost their jobs, so there won’t be customer service agents to assist them.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
-
Despite the changes, Idris assured employees that the company does not anticipate any staffing cuts this summer.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
When city bureaucrats saw as liabilities schools that had been denied resources, parents saw community anchors.—
Stacy Davis Gates,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
-
This would reset the balance between the executive and legislative branches, demanding the House and Senate not cede excessive authority to unelected bureaucrats who are only too happy to usurp legislative powers.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Cove Gardens, where my family lived, was a sprawling red brick rental complex built after the war for the light-industrial, service, and clerical workers who were saving up for their own houses in a better area.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
Dunn said Black domestic workers were often forced to work longer on election days by their white families, weakening their chances of casting a ballot.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Public servants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/public%20servants. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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