flunky

flun·ky | \ ˈfləŋ-kē

How to pronounce flunky (audio)

\

variants: or less commonly flunkey or flunkie

plural flunkies also flunkeys

Definition of flunky

1a : a liveried servant

b : one performing menial or miscellaneous duties

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about flunky

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Examples of flunky in a Sentence

If he can't go himself, he'll send one of his flunkies. since I'm just the flunky who files his papers, I've no idea where he is

Recent Examples on the Web Far from embracing Western-style market reforms, Xi calcified state control over the economy and stocked its bureaucracy with flunkies and yes-men. — Charlie Campbell, Time, "The Coronavirus Outbreak Could Derail Xi Jinping’s Dreams of a Chinese Century," 6 Feb. 2020 My job is to be a journalist, not a flunky and a propaganda arm for your criminal behavior and corruption. — Washington Post, "NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn’t happen this week," 22 Nov. 2019 Robert Mueller’s simultaneously defining himself as helpless Justice Department flunky and supreme arbiter of the Constitution is above all another romp in the murk. — Kevin Baker, Harper's magazine, "The Deep State of Dementia," 19 Aug. 2019 Hollywood has Rick unwittingly intercept the Manson flunkies, which changes their path. — Jesse Hassenger, The Verge, "Quentin Tarantino’s historical revisionism makes his movies better suited for the future," 1 Aug. 2019 Michael Zalewski, 23rd, and political flunky Kevin Quinn, brother of Madigan’s own alderman, Marty Quinn, 13th. — John Kass, chicagotribune.com, "Column: Illinois After Boss Mike Madigan? Like Yugoslavia After Tito," 17 July 2019 Grindelwald is surrounded with flunkies with no personality or purpose. — Tasha Robinson, The Verge, "Even for the Harry Potter hardcore, Crimes of Grindelwald is one convoluted movie," 8 Nov. 2018 There’s an oh-so-English affect to the staffers guiding visitors from the station to the entrance, kitted out in scarlet red capes and pillbox hats like flunkies on loan from Buckingham Palace. — Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, "How Chinese Tourists Are Changing the Travel Landscape," 2 Nov. 2018 His flunkies, as documented in a House investigation, simply were looking for a impressive-sounding number to serve the administration’s political interests at the time. — Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, "Fuel-Mileage Rules Are No Help to the Climate," 3 Aug. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'flunky.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

11 Feb 2020

Cite this Entry

“Flunky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flunkie. Accessed 16 Feb. 2020.

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