as in cowpoke
a hired hand who tends cattle or horses at a ranch or on the range
cowboys were rounding up the cattle for branding
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cowboy
Mexican cowboys and cowgirls—charros and escaramuzas, as they are called in Spanish—are a parade highlight, often saved for last as a sort of grand finale.
—
Christin Parcerisa Vigueras, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Hanks, 69, shed some light on the viral glimpse of what appeared to be a bald spot on the toy cowboy in the upcoming film.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Dress up like a cowboy with leather shirts and pants.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Following her character’s breakup with a cowboy (played by Luke Grimes), Langley hitches a ride back to Tennessee with a sage country singer who’s already seen it all (Miranda Lambert).
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cowboy
Christin Parcerisa Vigueras, Travel + Leisure, 30 Apr. 2026
Hanks, 69, shed some light on the viral glimpse of what appeared to be a bald spot on the toy cowboy in the upcoming film.
—Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Dress up like a cowboy with leather shirts and pants.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Apr. 2026
Following her character’s breakup with a cowboy (played by Luke Grimes), Langley hitches a ride back to Tennessee with a sage country singer who’s already seen it all (Miranda Lambert).
—Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cowboy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowboy
Noun
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The all-inclusive dude ranch is about a 90-minute drive from Reno, Nevada, and has invited travelers to get in touch with their inner cowpoke since 1962.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Feb. 2026
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For cowpokes looking to escape winter’s bite, White Stallion Ranch operates year-round, offering trail rides among the cactuses on 3,000 acres bordering Saguaro National Park.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Residents and visitors will line the streets to watch cowhands from various ranches herd more than 30 Longhorns through town, a tradition dating back to when the parade was a downtown cattle drive.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
7 Jan. 2026
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There are plenty of places to take a horse, with experienced cowhands to guide the way.—
Jenny Peters,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Joe worked as a cowpuncher in Flagler, Colo., making $150 a day tending to cattle on horseback.—
Jose A. Del Real,
Washington Post,
6 Nov. 2022
Noun
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The extension of credit is a very nuanced skill that is best left to bankers who are compensated mostly through salary with a small bonus component and not by deal-making buckaroos who are heavily incentivized to lend other people's money and move on to the next deal.—
Mark Avallone,
Forbes.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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There are muddy buckaroo boots worn by some lucky child, and the tiny boots of Major Lynn White (1838-1915), then the world’s smallest man.—
Sandra Dallas,
Denver Post,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This agreement is cost-effective, creates a sustainable home for our horsemen, and ensures that the Preakness Stakes and Maryland racing remain global icons of excellence for generations to come.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
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The six horsemen follow upstairs, to the upper floors, into the apartment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The picture-perfect cowman’s paradise of Stockyards City is true to its stripes—and nowhere is this more evident than in Cattlemen’s Steakhouse.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
29 Mar. 2025
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The reply of my friend and hunting companion was one of those quaint, rasping epithets which only a cowman can manage when everything has gone wrong.—
Frank C. Hibben,
Outdoor Life,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Ted Turner, the media mogul, philanthropist, international sports impresario, rancher and champion sailor, had one of the best runs in human history.—
Drew Kann,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
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Over the course of a year, the series follows the bond between each rancher and their dog within a real working environment, capturing the patience, discipline, and connection at the heart of the process.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cowboy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowboy. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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