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
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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
For whatever reason, contract talks fell through leaving the NFL’s most prestigious franchise without a headman to begin their offseason.
—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
See All Example Sentences for headman
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
For whatever reason, contract talks fell through leaving the NFL’s most prestigious franchise without a headman to begin their offseason.
—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
See All Example Sentences for headman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for headman
Noun
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The detentions come after a handful of other arrests months earlier, but Fúnez has long been pinpointed by local environmental and religious leaders as the man who spearheaded the assassination.—
Marlon González,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
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Unlike other Western leaders—and the foreign-policy establishment in Washington—Sánchez sees China in more pragmatic terms rather than as necessarily a strategic rival.—
Ishaan Tharoor,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Emerson Miller/Paramount+ The first two episodes of Dutton Ranch, the new Yellowstone spinoff featuring beloved couple Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler, are now streaming, setting up a new adventure for John Dutton’s (Kevin Costner) strong-willed daughter and his loyal foreman.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
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Jai Courtney will play Rob-Will, a ranch foreman and one of Beulah Jackson’s henchmen.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
Noun
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In his first title race against Manchester City, there was a reluctance from the Arsenal boss to make changes at key moments that sapped momentum away from his side.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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As Jones informed Moore of the selection, the 6-foot-3, 198-pound outside corner made a bold proclamation to his new boss.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Investigators are working to determine a motive, but the San Diego police chief described the killings as a possible hate crime.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
19 May 2026
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The selection of Doral’s police chief falls under the authority of City Manager Zeida Sardiñas, though the City Council must approve the employment agreement.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
Noun
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England, in theory, have players who can offer a decent facsimile of this (Elliot Anderson and Ezri Konsa, in particular), but Tuchel seems inclined to build his England squad around striker and captain Harry Kane over anyone else.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2026
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Up to 50 passengers showed symptoms consistent with acute digestive infection after the ship’s captain alerted French authorities on Tuesday evening, the statement said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
Noun
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Brown holds a bachelor’s degree in animal sciences from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree in business from Louisiana State University Shreveport.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
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The university will also suspend new admission into the bachelor of arts in anthropology and the masters of engineering and masters of science in materials science and engineering to rework curriculum through an interdisciplinary lens.—
Maven Navarro,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 May 2026
Noun
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As the attack unfolded on Sunday morning, Ukraine’s commander of the Unmanned System Forces posted a message on his official Telegram account, addressed to the residents of Patriarchy, one of Moscow’s elite residential districts.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
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Prosecutors allege Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi served as a commander for Kata’ib Hizballah and worked with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Noun
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On the Democratic side, Jesse Brewer, a former area manager for 7-Eleven locations, is running against Melissa Strange, a supply-chain director for an agribusiness company.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
19 May 2026
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Sitting in the Petco Park visiting dugout Monday afternoon, Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes would have preferred to be answering a different set of questions about the team’s rotation depth.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Headman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/headman. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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