hatchet man

noun

Definition of hatchet mannext
1
as in attack dog

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words
2
as in wordmonger

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 hatchet man While he was sent by the White House to be a hatchet man, Oz, a cardiothoracic surgeon, should use a scalpel with care, conducting a real, legitimate probe that seeks ways to save money for taxpayers and improve outcomes for patients. — New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2026 In 2010, the duo separated, going opposite directions; Malice sought repentance through the church while Pusha became a hatchet man for Kanye West. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Dec. 2025 Arthur is known as Conkling’s hatchet man, a customs collector for the Port of New York who’s shown, in one amusing snippet, presiding over the beating of a noncompliant businessman. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2025 The White House and its hatchet men attacking culture are coming for the artists, curators, museum directors, docents, writers, and editors who value freedom and liberation and Black history and women’s history and ideas and progress. — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Back home, more pink slips for federal employees go out and the scrutiny of Elon Musk's role as the hatchet man for those agencies intensifies. — CBS News, 16 Feb. 2025 Musician and producer Grimes made a rare comment involving her ex-partner and father to her three kids, Elon Musk, after their 4-year-old son appeared alongside the tech mogul turned government hatchet man at the White House on Wednesday. — Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hatchet man
  1. attack dog
  2. ghostwriter
  3. pit bull
  4. scribbler
  5. tiger
  6. hack
  7. biographer
  8. cowriter
Noun
  • Pulte, the 38-year-old director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, is best known for his role as a partisan attack dog for the president.
    — Eric McDaniel, NPR, 11 June 2026
  • Activists detained when their flotilla attempted to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza say they have been mistreated at the hands of Israeli soldiers, describing beatings, tasers and attack dogs.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Definition of attack dog
Noun
  • Biden's classified docs narrative crumbles amid release of ghostwriter tapes.
    — , FOXNews.com, 28 July 2026
  • In the final years of his life, Tana became determined to tell that story, working with writers in Serbia and eventually a ghostwriter, Todd Gold, who requested no credit; the resulting memoir feels wholly told in Tana’s voice.
    — Maddie Connors, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026
Definition of ghostwriter
Noun
  • At another residence, prosecutors said a refrigerator, stove and two pit bull puppies were stolen before the house was then set on fire.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The 2018 tip alleged a home in the neighborhood was operating as a pit bull puppy mill.
    — Karen Morfitt, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of pit bull
Noun
  • The internet and smartphone threatened to stamp out scribblers entirely.
    — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 24 Apr. 2026
  • All remaining scribblers should lay down their squibs and come out, squinting, arms aloft in surrender.
    — Jayson Greene, Time, 17 June 2025
Definition of scribbler
Noun
  • This transfer leaves more than 20 lions and tigers at Luján while Four Paws searches for their long-term homes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The estate included a train system, amusement park with rides and attractions, and a zoo with animals such as llamas, elephants, tigers, and chimps.
    — Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of tiger
Noun
  • Wolff does not describe it as a chatbot, a productivity hack, or a clever add-on.
    — Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 18 Aug. 2026
  • When activists and media hacks attack your locker room, a head coach cannot just sit on the fence.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of hack
Noun
  • Jack Hirsch, biographer of Anthony’s husband, Olympic and pro boxing champ Michael Spinks, confirmed the news to Anthony’s longtime publication New York Amsterdam News.
    — Erik Pedersen, Deadline, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Anthony’s death was confirmed to Variety by Jack Hirsch, the biographer of Anthony’s husband, Michael Spinks.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of biographer
Noun
  • Ingrid Goes West is a blistering social-media satire from director and cowriter Matt Spicer, who also directed the Netflix original Little Brother.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026
  • Gail Daughtry was directed and cowritten by David Wain, a veteran of the comedy troupe The State and also the director of the 2001 cult hit Wet Hot American Summer; Marino, another State and Wet Hot alumnus, is his cowriter.
    — Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 July 2026
Definition of cowriter

Browse Nearby Words

hatchet jobs
hatchet man
hatchet men
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hatchet man.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hatchet%20man. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of balmy

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All