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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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
-
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
-
Lee is the jury foreman, who goes flying with the rest of the group when Banner transforms into the Hulk while testifying.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
7 May 2026
-
Mentorship opens unexpected doors The shop foreman at Sam Pack encouraged him to take advantage of industry certification opportunities at Dallas College while also pursuing a degree.—
Robbie Owens,
CBS News,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
BuzzFeed founder and current chief Jonah Peretti will transition to a new role as president of BuzzFeed AI.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Cara Sylvester, Target's merchandising chief, told CNBC that families with children visit stores twice as much as the average shopper.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
11 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
-
In text messages between Musk and his employees, including OpenAI board member Shivon Zilis and a project director Sam Teller, Musk's team cheered the hire, according to correspondence made public in discovery.—
Ashley Capoot,Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
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Pasricha’s wife Eiesha Pasricha is the de facto artistic director of the brand, also personally curating the retail at Gleneagles and the shop at Estelle Manor.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helmsman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helmsman. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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