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 Blackhawks kept pace in the conference standings with Riverside-Brookfield and Glenbard East, with all three teams trailing league leader South Elgin by one game.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
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As the eldest brother in the band, Alan was often seen as its de facto leader.—
Ellise Shafer,
Variety,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Bill and Doris Cooper were responsible for converting all 28 acres of vines to CCOF Certified Organic status in 2011, a designation maintained to this day by general manager Jan Garrod and his son Trevor, who serves as winemaker and ranch yard foreman.—
Laura Ness,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2026
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Customers were very important; workers, foremen.—
Michael Kilian,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
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His original boss, national security adviser Mike Waltz, was booted to the United Nations after the Signalgate scandal, leaving the role to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was already juggling portfolios and is busier now with Iran.—
Hannah Allam,
ProPublica,
21 Apr. 2026
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Most Fed chairs have left the board altogether when their term as boss runs out.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Del Toro and Spenny, who also came up to the varsity as freshmen, are co-captains along with Marzullo.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
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The Kings’ lone goal came from Artemi Panarin while captain Gabriel Landeskog had the other Colorado goal.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
At the end of 2025, its artificial intelligence chief left the company.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
20 Apr. 2026
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The festival, organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV), also had a vibrant edition of its Meetings on the Bridge market component being relaunched under the new leadership of former Antalya Golden Orange Film Festival chief Başak Emre and Pınar Evrenosoğlu.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
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By elevating a master product architect, Apple is betting that the ultimate victor of the AI age will be the company that owns the final, most valuable mile of the consumer experience.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
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Created from synthetic organic material, and thus more android than mechanical, these worker-roboti ultimately overthrow their human masters.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Mojtaba Khamenei is probably alive, but Vahidi, who is head of -- the commander of the IRGC is probably calling the shots.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
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In past years, the association president has been followed by the commander-in-chief, and then a headliner, usually a comedian who roasts everyone in the room.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The club wanted to offer the 37-year-old Polish striker reduced terms with a secondary role while Lewandowski was waiting to see what the club’s sporting directors would offer him.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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The key position of NSF director has been unfilled ever since Sethuraman Panchanathan, a computer scientist and academic administrator, resigned in April 2025.—
National Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Helmsman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/helmsman. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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