as in leader
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do
had a complaint and demanded to talk to the helmsman of this vast construction project, not some underling
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Recent Examples of helmsman
Burling, at 26, is the youngest helmsman to win sailing’s greatest prize in a competition that dates to 1851.
2021 — Tour de France: The largest pile up in Tour history is caused by a spectator with a sign during Stage 1.
—
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
The Australian Spithill is a former skipper and helmsman for BMW Oracle Racing, winning the America’s Cup in 2010, defending the cup twice, both times against Emirates Team New Zealand, first successfully in 2013, and unsuccessfully in 2017.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
The helmsman, feeling swells beneath the vessel, gleans the proper heading, even in the dark.
—The Conversation, 14 May 2025
The umpires on the water will make subjective judgment calls that include deciding whether a collision was avoidable—that is, determining if the helmsman of one boat gave the other room and opportunity to maneuver to avoid the collision.
—Stan Honey, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Aug. 2013
See All Example Sentences for helmsman
Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025
The Australian Spithill is a former skipper and helmsman for BMW Oracle Racing, winning the America’s Cup in 2010, defending the cup twice, both times against Emirates Team New Zealand, first successfully in 2013, and unsuccessfully in 2017.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
The helmsman, feeling swells beneath the vessel, gleans the proper heading, even in the dark.
—The Conversation, 14 May 2025
The umpires on the water will make subjective judgment calls that include deciding whether a collision was avoidable—that is, determining if the helmsman of one boat gave the other room and opportunity to maneuver to avoid the collision.
—Stan Honey, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Aug. 2013
See All Example Sentences for helmsman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for helmsman
Noun
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Since that occurred, stadium management has met with the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen and other Town leaders to learn the reasons for the modifications and to work towards an amendment to the stadium lease that would build upon our decades-long partnership.—
Chad Graff,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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The consumer backlash, which prompted Lululemon to issue an apology and scrub its campaign, is the latest example of how quickly Western brands can come unstuck in a country where nationalism has surged under strongman leader Xi Jinping.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Noun
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Rip takes over as foreman, and Beth works on the business side of things much to the chagrin of Beulah’s son Joaquin.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 June 2026
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As foreman, Rip will oversee a 75,000-acre ranch, manage 2,200 head of cattle and supervise a large bunkhouse staff.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
6 June 2026
Noun
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The day shift also starts making factory-work jokes, with Rekha playing a perky do-bee who just wants to make the boss happy, and Lily adopting an agitator role, demanding workman’s comp and trying to spark revolt.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
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In 2018, Rita Ferro succeeded the retiring Erhardt as the ESPN sales boss under a new title (president, Disney ad sales).—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
16 June 2026
Noun
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Travis Reed, who was a fire captain with the now-defunct Briar Volunteer Fire Department, admitted to coercing a minor into producing child pornography in September, according to a summary of facts in the case.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 June 2026
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Former Minnesota Vikings captain Jack Brewer urged San Francisco Giants pitchers not to back down after MLB warned them not to write Bible verses on their Pride Night caps.—
Jackson Thompson OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Noun
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The chief told The Times the officer who fired the shot was no longer on the force, and the district attorney’s office was reviewing whether the behavior was criminal in nature.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
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The second movie, which brought back the original director David Frankel and screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna, picks up 20 years later as Anne Hathaway’s Andy Sachs returns to Runway magazine as a features editor under Meryl Streep’s all-powerful editor-in-chief, Miranda Priestly.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
15 June 2026
Noun
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As Photay, Shornstein—a master synthesist and producer—flits between atmospheric house, dubby breakbeat workouts, and chirping electro funk, building his songs’ arrangements into strange, angular shapes.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
16 June 2026
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Your newest home automation systems will come equipped with sensors and jazzy master controls on an iPad.—
Jill Kargman,
Architectural Digest,
16 June 2026
Noun
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The Israel Defense Forces announced the elimination of a senior Hezbollah commander who was accused of orchestrating the 2007 kidnapping and murder of five American soldiers.—
Eric Mack,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
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An allegation last year by a provincial police commander that top officers and officials were colluding with organized criminals led Ramaphosa to announce a national investigation into police corruption.—
Michelle Gumede,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2026
Noun
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The series is created and showrun by Yalun Tu, with Marialy Rivas serving as lead director and executive producer.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 June 2026
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This work fundamentally kicks the can of water conservation down the road, and some directors of the district readily acknowledge this.—
Allen Best,
Denver Post,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helmsman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helmsman. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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