as in cowhands
a hired hand who tends cattle or horses at a ranch or on the range
cowboys were rounding up the cattle for branding
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Recent Examples of cowboys
Rather than risk the herd, the cowboys cut out one old cow and pushed her about a half-mile upstream and into the water.
—
Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026
Since 1896, the event celebrating Western culture, cowboys and agriculture has brought millions of people to Fort Worth from around the world.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Jan. 2026
In Christmastime in Mexico’s state of Michoacán, bull riders, cowboys and crowds of fans assemble for an annual spectacle – the jaripeo, or Mexican rodeo and festival.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
Although Wrangler has been dressing cowboys since 1947, its offering is now ubiquitous globally.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
Many of these towns have Old West history and were the stomping grounds of infamous outlaws and cowboys, while other towns have a spooky history of ghosts that are said to haunt the town.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 19 Jan. 2026
The Smithsonian Museum estimates that one in four cowboys was Black, working alongside Hispanic vaqueros and Native Americans to help settle the West.
—Bo Evans, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
The stories of Black, Indigenous and Mexican cowboys and ranchers have not historically been told in popular culture, but the Stock Show was the first to host the groundbreaking Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in 1984.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
The same reporting team, Banks and Williams, had earlier in the year spent several days with Black cowboys to tell the story — in words and photos — of the Black rodeo’s visit to Hale Arena in Kansas City.
—Mara Williams, Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2026
Arkansas Online, 27 Jan. 2026
Since 1896, the event celebrating Western culture, cowboys and agriculture has brought millions of people to Fort Worth from around the world.
—Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Jan. 2026
In Christmastime in Mexico’s state of Michoacán, bull riders, cowboys and crowds of fans assemble for an annual spectacle – the jaripeo, or Mexican rodeo and festival.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026
Although Wrangler has been dressing cowboys since 1947, its offering is now ubiquitous globally.
—Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 20 Jan. 2026
Many of these towns have Old West history and were the stomping grounds of infamous outlaws and cowboys, while other towns have a spooky history of ghosts that are said to haunt the town.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 19 Jan. 2026
The Smithsonian Museum estimates that one in four cowboys was Black, working alongside Hispanic vaqueros and Native Americans to help settle the West.
—Bo Evans, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
The stories of Black, Indigenous and Mexican cowboys and ranchers have not historically been told in popular culture, but the Stock Show was the first to host the groundbreaking Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo in 1984.
—John Wenzel, Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2026
The same reporting team, Banks and Williams, had earlier in the year spent several days with Black cowboys to tell the story — in words and photos — of the Black rodeo’s visit to Hale Arena in Kansas City.
—Mara Williams, Kansas City Star, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowboys
cowhands
Noun
-
There are plenty of places to take a horse, with experienced cowhands to guide the way.—
Jenny Peters,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Now, the ranch is proactively using drones equipped with speakers and bright lights as stand-in cowhands, WSJ reported.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cowboys.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowboys. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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