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butler

noun

Definition of butlernext
as in manservant
a man employed in in the home of a wealthy person to perform various personal services and to be in charge of other household employees

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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 butler The story follows Jaime, a former lover turned butler to Isabel, a wealthy Argentine woman. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026 The Ohio estate has features that Swift appears to fancy — a grand staircase, an elegant dining room (with a butler’s pantry) for entertaining and a pool. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026 On the big screen, the British star was beloved for playing Rooster Hannigan in 1982’s Annie, the butler Wadsworth in 1985’s Clue and Long John Silver in 1996’s Muppet Treasure Island. — Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026 Also on the film side, Curry was known for his role as Rooster Hannigan in 1982’s Annie, the butler Wadsworth in 1985’s Clue and Long John Silver in 1996’s Muppet Treasure Island. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for butler
Recent Examples of Synonyms for butler
  1. manservant
  2. valet
  3. footman
  4. servant
  5. houseboy
  6. houseman
  7. groom
  8. majordomo
Noun
  • The only person who knows Diego’s secret is Bernardo (Salvatore Ficarra), his mute manservant.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
  • That film crackled with undertones of class, sexuality and politics, with Dirk Bogarde playing the sociopathic manservant to acclaim.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 May 2026
Definition of manservant
Noun
  • Lil Yachty, Williams’ valet, has kept nipping at Corbin’s heels.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The beach valet will set you up in comfy yellow chairs under a sun umbrella and lend the kids sand toys.
    — Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of valet
Noun
  • The king and queen always face the direction of travel and will exit first; their guests face the footmen and will exit after the monarchs.
    — Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
  • There’s a moment when a former general upbraids a footman for not wearing gloves to serve food.
    — Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 22 May 2026
Definition of footman
Noun
  • Mom isn’t her kids’ servant, and these types of expectations aren’t kind, fair, or respectful.
    — Parents, Parents, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Wadsworth begins Clue as the seemingly subservient servant before gradually taking command of the entire picture.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of servant
Noun
  • The pilot featured Charles Levin as Coco, a gay houseboy.
    — Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Collins is playing Skip, the houseboy in the estate where the play takes place.
    — Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 5 Dec. 2022
Definition of houseboy
Noun
  • Garcia has held various positions at the restaurant and hotel, working his way up from a hotel houseman to a waiter at the restaurant and now a manager.
    — Janelle Griffith, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The 25-year-old earned around $28 an hour as a night houseman on the evening shift at Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport.
    — Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Feb. 2025
Definition of houseman
Noun
  • The groom spent his wedding night wearing his family’s blood.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • This year alone, five children from Ebony have gone on to the British Racing School, the National Stud and the National Horse Racing College to get their qualifications as a groom to work in the equine industry.
    — Danielle Rossingh, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of groom
Noun
  • The color palette changed so that the attire of the Cogsworth character — the Beast’s loyal majordomo who has been transformed into a clock — is now green rather than brown.
    — Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2026
  • The Huntington's majordomo does this with an eye toward guests–making sure they’re greeted warmly and that any preferences are known and reflected throughout their stay.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 June 2026
Definition of majordomo

Browse Nearby Words

butchery
butler
butlers
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Cite this Entry

“Butler.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/butler. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on butler

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about butler

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