hireling

noun

hire·ling | \ˈhī(-ə)r-liŋ

Definition of hireling

: a person who serves for hire especially for purely mercenary motives

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about hireling

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Synonyms & Antonyms for hireling

Synonyms

employee (also employe), hand, jobholder, retainer, worker

Antonyms

employer, gaffer [British]

Examples of hireling in a Sentence

She's one of the political hirelings who run the candidate's campaign. demanded to speak to the store's owner and not one of his hirelings

Recent Examples on the Web

Not since Carson Palmer has one of Mike Brown’s hirelings had the emperor in such a headlock. — Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc: If Marvin's back, Bengals better have Super reason," 2 Jan. 2018 This dangerous idea is being pushed by Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater, a U.S. contracting firm whose private security hirelings famously shot up civilians in Baghdad. — Trudy Rubin, Philly.com, "Trump would be bonkers to listen to Blackwater founder's plan to use mercenaries in Afghanistan| Trudy Rubin," 18 Aug. 2017 No refuge could save the hireling and slave from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave. — Solomon Jones, Philly.com, "Michael Vick is wrong: A haircut won't help Colin Kaepernick, or any black man," 18 July 2017 Less a bold grab for fortune or glory and more a frantic race back to the cave’s entrance, Hirelings: The Ascent is an enchanting mash-up of Dungeons & Dragons and Candy Land. — WIRED, "Turn Your Family Into NPCs With Hirelings: The Ascent," 16 Aug. 2012 The excuses from the soulless ghouls—and their hirelings in law enforcement—should not be a surprise, either. — Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, "A Weird, Violent Day in America," 10 Apr. 2017

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