Synonyms of headman

headman

noun

as in leader

the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do

as headman at the newspaper 20 years ago, he hired the then-promising young reporter who won this year's Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• leader
• foreman
• boss
• chief
• captain
• master
• commander
• manager
• director
• head
• lord
• overseer
• administrator
• superintendent
• honcho
• helmsman
• supervisor
• kingpin
• jefe
• taskmaster
• executive
• president
• governor
• boss man
• principal
• steward
• king
• mistress
• skipper
• ruler
• general
• leadman
• overlord
• baron
• prince
• potentate
• directress
• czar
• employer
• figurehead
• dominator
• straw boss
• magnate
• superior
• sovereign
• hierarch
• mogul
• standard-bearer
• higher-up
• top dog
• big gun
• bigwig
• gaffer
• coleader
• top gun
• cohead
• ganger
• big cheese
• micromanager
• subchief
• subdirector

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• secondary
• dependent
• junior
• subject
• subordinate
• underling
• inferior

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of headman

The New York Giants were the first team to have a head coach non-vacancy, with former Baltimore Ravens headman John Harbaugh taking his services to the Big Apple. — Jim Reineking, USA Today, 16 Jan. 2026

The child’s uncle, Salim Güran — the village headman — had been arrested earlier in the probe, per Hürriyet Daily News. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2025

Jerry Jones’ relationship with Colorado Buffaloes headman Deion Sanders is documented, but hiring Coach Prime may only be considered if the Cowboys pivot off of Prescott and draft Deion’s son Shedeur Sanders. — Kambui Bomani, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025

Jon Merrill came on for Bogosian and got caught flat-footed when Manson hit a headman pass to the blue line for O’Connor. — Michael Russo, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025