heir apparent

noun

Definition of heir apparentnext
as in successor

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of heir apparent Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, 22, is the heir apparent to the Dutch throne, while Princess Elisabeth is first in the Belgian line of succession. — Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 Messi, ever the showman, scored a stunning hat trick—his first ever in a World Cup—for the 3–0 win, and was subbed out in the seventy-ninth minute for Nico Paz (suggested by some to be his heir apparent), to a standing ovation. — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 27 June 2026 Years into the overhaul, Mulally’s then–heir apparent Mark Fields recalled how the CEO had empowered executives to defy Ford’s long-standing culture that buried bad news. — Claire Zillman, Fortune, 12 June 2026 After the disastrous ’24 season, Getz fired White Sox manager Pedro Grifol and hired Rangers bench coach Will Venable, who’d been the heir apparent there to succeed Bruce Bochy. — Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for heir apparent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for heir apparent
  1. successor
  2. claimant
  3. heir
  4. representative
Noun
  • The government has increasingly squeezed freedoms under his successor, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who was reelected to a second term in 2024.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 July 2026
  • Most notably, Lucid Chief Financial Officer Taoufiq Boussaid will leave the company after a handover to his successor, Alexander De Bock, who most recently served as CFO of automotive supplier TI Automotive.
    — Michael Wayland, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of successor
Noun
  • The settlement extends benefits to unidentified third-party claimants who were never parties to the initial lawsuit.
    — Tax Notes Staff, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • Publicly available data shows that wrongful death settlements for motor vehicle accidents in Texas vary widely, which is exactly why identifying the correct legal claimants early in the process matters so much.
    — William Jones, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026
Definition of claimant
Noun
  • Mojtaba Khamenei, Khamenei’s son and expectant heir, is notably absent.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 4 July 2026
  • The Prince of Wales sadly won’t be attending Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s wedding Friday in New York City, but the heir to the British throne nonetheless made sure to offer some royal prestige to events.
    — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 July 2026
Definition of heir
Noun
  • Swift's representative confirmed that the actor-comedian officiated the July 3 ceremony at Madison Square Garden.
    — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • Some states chose not to send representatives; several of them cited disagreements with the partisan mission.
    — Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 3 July 2026
Definition of representative

Browse Nearby Words

heir
heir apparent
heir at law
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Cite this Entry

“Heir apparent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/heir%20apparent. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on heir apparent

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about heir apparent

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