as in governmental
of, relating to, or like a nonelective government official or body of government officials
a bureaucratic institution bureaucratic procedures
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Recent Examples of bureaucratic
The number of people who are in positions of management or administration is a key marker of bureaucratic growth.
—
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Although the Trump administration’s attention to the drug issue has raised the DEA’s profile, Cole will, if confirmed as the administrator, likely have to fight for its place in a growing bureaucratic scrum.
—Tim Golden, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2025
Since Sophie’s father turned litigious, and her first husband became a murderer, bureaucratic records also preserve imprints of her life, even as descendants’ memories grow increasingly faint.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
Across Maryland and the nation, school boards and departments of education are increasingly absorbed in ideological initiatives and bureaucratic complexity, often at the expense of their most fundamental mission: to teach students how to read closely, write clearly and think critically.
—William P. Yeakel, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bureaucratic
William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 30 Apr. 2025
Although the Trump administration’s attention to the drug issue has raised the DEA’s profile, Cole will, if confirmed as the administrator, likely have to fight for its place in a growing bureaucratic scrum.
—Tim Golden, ProPublica, 29 Apr. 2025
Since Sophie’s father turned litigious, and her first husband became a murderer, bureaucratic records also preserve imprints of her life, even as descendants’ memories grow increasingly faint.
—Smithsonian Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
Across Maryland and the nation, school boards and departments of education are increasingly absorbed in ideological initiatives and bureaucratic complexity, often at the expense of their most fundamental mission: to teach students how to read closely, write clearly and think critically.
—William P. Yeakel, Baltimore Sun, 28 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bureaucratic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bureaucratic
Adjective
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The Islamic Action Front, a political party linked to the regionwide Brotherhood, won the most seats in parliamentary elections held last year against the backdrop of mass protests against Israel over its war with Hamas.—
Omar Akour,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
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Exploration doesn’t mean commercial mining will happen—after companies locate minerals on the seabed, another parliamentary vote followed by extensive environmental reviews would be required before full-scale extraction is allowed.—
Christian Elliott,
Smithsonian Magazine,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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While the government has announced more than 200,000 cuts, Capital Economics said many federal employees have been placed on administrative leave or accepted deferred retirement and are still counted as employed.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
2 May 2025
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The spokesperson said Caldwell had been placed on administrative leave.—
Chris Spargo,
People.com,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bureaucratic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bureaucratic. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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