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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 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
-
The move suggests a broader shift in Tehran, where a new generation of leaders is increasingly abandoning the cautious, reactive approach that long defined the Islamic Republic’s strategy towards its adversaries.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
-
Bains, backed by Democratic Party leaders and major labor organizations, ran as a more moderate Democrat with a healthcare background who occasionally broke with her party on Assembly votes.—
Mathew Miranda
June 9,
Sacbee.com,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Sting plays Jackie White, a shipyard foreman whose health is deteriorating at the moment his community needs him most.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Online resale app Vinted is seeing a structural shift in consumer behaviour, as habits form around the resale economy, the company’s marketplace boss told CNBC on Monday.—
Elsa Ohlen,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
-
Now, even a Gen Z hiring manager is backing the bosses who slam her generation after an interviewee FaceTimed her and demanded more money.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
The 36-year-old captain’s eyes were watering.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
11 June 2026
-
The France captain has already established himself as one of the greatest World Cup performers of all time.—
Abdul Rehman,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth attends a church affiliated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, a conservative Reformed denomination whose theology differs sharply from that of the LDS Church.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
-
Visiting North Korea gives Xi another chance to show himself as an agile powerbroker able to engage a diverse cast of leaders, from the chief of the world’s most powerful democracy to an autocrat with a sanctions-defying weapons regime.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
In addition, the Casa Sanlorenzo cultural venue opened in 2025 will host two exhibitions, one dedicated to local master artisans and curated by Artemest and another presenting craftspeople from Luxembourg by De Mains De Maîtres Luxembourg.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
9 June 2026
-
Jayne and Rabinovitz are both classified master bench jewelers, Jayne said, meaning the two have reached the highest level of professional jeweler, according to the Jewelers of America.—
Emma Hall,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Because the Russian commanders keep attacking anyway, the Ukrainians are killing and wounding thousands of enemy soldiers, perhaps as many as 30,000, every month.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
7 June 2026
-
During launch and landing, when the seats were assembled, to the left of the entrance was the seat of the pilot (NASA’s Victor Glover) and commander (NASA’s Reid Wiseman).—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 June 2026
Noun
-
Amtrak police responded to Sunday’s stabbing, the company’s communications director told CNN, and an investigation is underway.—
Gloria Pazmino,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
-
Ednar Dayanghirang, director of the Office of Civil Defense in a nearby southern region, said more than 100 students attending morning flag-raising ceremonies sustained bruises and some fainted in panic at different elementary and high schools.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helmsman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helmsman. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
