as in pilots
one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft
her father was an airman who was shot down in Vietnam
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Recent Examples of airmen
Those killed in the March 12 crash include three active-duty airmen from the 6th Air Refueling Wing based in Tampa, Florida, and three National Guard airmen from the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing.
—
Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026
In the winter morning sunshine, two tanks and an armored personnel carrier moved slowly down Constitution Avenue, accompanied by troops carrying submachine guns, while soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines lined the street.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Two airmen, including Cyr, were not recovered, and he was listed as missing in action.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Hegseth complained that the media hadn’t focused on such aspects of the war as the rescue missions to save two airmen whose plane was shot down in Iran, even though that story was covered extensively.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
The Air Force set a goal of 32,750 active duty airmen this year, while the Space Force aimed to bring in 730 guardians.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Idaho airmen are being sent to the Middle East to support military activity in Iran.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2026
New details are emerging from the dramatic rescue of two American airmen in a remote corner of Southwest Iran after their F-15 fighter jet was shot down Friday.
—Max Burman, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
The two airmen ejected over southwestern Iran; the weapons officer was injured during the ejection, but was still able to walk and was the last to be rescued, the New York Post reported, quoting Axios.
—Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026
In the winter morning sunshine, two tanks and an armored personnel carrier moved slowly down Constitution Avenue, accompanied by troops carrying submachine guns, while soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines lined the street.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Two airmen, including Cyr, were not recovered, and he was listed as missing in action.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Hegseth complained that the media hadn’t focused on such aspects of the war as the rescue missions to save two airmen whose plane was shot down in Iran, even though that story was covered extensively.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
The Air Force set a goal of 32,750 active duty airmen this year, while the Space Force aimed to bring in 730 guardians.
—Steven Beynon, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
Idaho airmen are being sent to the Middle East to support military activity in Iran.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 8 Apr. 2026
New details are emerging from the dramatic rescue of two American airmen in a remote corner of Southwest Iran after their F-15 fighter jet was shot down Friday.
—Max Burman, NBC news, 6 Apr. 2026
The two airmen ejected over southwestern Iran; the weapons officer was injured during the ejection, but was still able to walk and was the last to be rescued, the New York Post reported, quoting Axios.
—Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for airmen
Noun
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The Chinese government did not issue any public notices for pilots to avoid the rocket’s flight path, as is customary for space launches around the world.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
2 June 2026
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Some 14,000 employees were thrown out of work, including 3,000 pilots, 5,500 flight attendants, and 5,500 ground maintenance employees.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
1 June 2026
Noun
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Thousands of family and friends crowded the pier for the roughly 3,500 sailors still on board, after the aviators who flew the planes attached to the carrier, flew off earlier in the week.—
Steve Walsh,
NPR,
23 May 2026
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These blackouts occur when intense X-ray and ultraviolet radiation from solar flares ionize Earth's upper atmosphere, interfering with high-frequency radio signals used by aviators, mariners and amateur radio operators.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Airmen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/airmen. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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