as in Joe Blow
an average or ordinary man
to John Doe the most important issues in any election are usually those that affect his wallet
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of John Doe
The man was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), known only as Grays Harbor County John Doe (2006).
—
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, as well as two unnamed Kansas City Police officers identified as John Doe and Jane Doe, are listed as defendants.
—Benjamin Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 20 Dec. 2025
The John Doe becomes a sensation, as the whole city wants to offer him a job and prevent him from jumping.
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025
MacPherson, who was let go in January 2024 as NU’s associate head coach, was also accused in a separate lawsuit, filed by former quarterback Lloyd Yates and an unnamed John Doe, of observing hazing incidents and making inappropriate comments about the latter’s girlfriend.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for John Doe
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
The Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners, as well as two unnamed Kansas City Police officers identified as John Doe and Jane Doe, are listed as defendants.
—Benjamin Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 20 Dec. 2025
The John Doe becomes a sensation, as the whole city wants to offer him a job and prevent him from jumping.
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025
MacPherson, who was let go in January 2024 as NU’s associate head coach, was also accused in a separate lawsuit, filed by former quarterback Lloyd Yates and an unnamed John Doe, of observing hazing incidents and making inappropriate comments about the latter’s girlfriend.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for John Doe
Recent Examples of Synonyms for John Doe
Noun
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Under secret balloting, someone might say, hey, here is $5 to vote for Joe Blow, but the voter could take the money and go into the curtained voting booth and vote for Bill Smith.—
Jay Ambrose,
Star Tribune,
10 Aug. 2020
Noun
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Benj Steinman, president of Beer Marketer’s Insight, said Yuengling is among the last regional brewers left standing in an age of consolidation, giving it craft beer cachet at something closer to a Joe Six-Pack price.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Aid workers are delivering food, water, shelter, and medical and mental health care, among other services.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
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Noah Nelson, a professor at the California Institute of the Arts and founder of immersive arts publication No Proscenium, said Actors’ Equity’s recognition of the Basement’s workers is a step in the right direction as the union welcomes more nontraditional units.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“John Doe.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/John%20Doe. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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