as in assistants
a person who helps a more skilled person
the drug lord has a pair of brutal lieutenants who do most of his dirty work for him
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Recent Examples of lieutenants
Other than the police chief and the two lieutenants, officers work on average 42 hours per week of shift work, which does not include overtime, Leiby said in an email to the Statesman.
—
Scott McIntosh, Idaho Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Among the deceased were colonels, lieutenants, majors and captains and some reserve soldiers, ranging in age from 26 to 60, The Associated Press reported.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
His son and three other top lieutenants are also listed in the indictment, but only Maduro and his wife are expected in court today.
—Elena Giuliano, NBC news, 5 Jan. 2026
But for now, Maduro’s top lieutenants are still in charge.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026
As part of a cover story on Mamdani’s incoming administration, the magazine ran a photo on the front page showcasing the mayor and his top lieutenants.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2026
Her thirst to kill him and his lieutenants leads her on an adventure through Japan’s northernmost island.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Many of Musk's top allies and DOGE lieutenants have transitioned to become full-time employees at the agencies they were detailed to.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 22 Dec. 2025
Those costs were signed off by the club’s auditors, but also helped Laporta and his lieutenants present a cleaner slate from 2021-22 onwards.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Scott McIntosh, Idaho Statesman, 9 Jan. 2026
Among the deceased were colonels, lieutenants, majors and captains and some reserve soldiers, ranging in age from 26 to 60, The Associated Press reported.
—Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 7 Jan. 2026
His son and three other top lieutenants are also listed in the indictment, but only Maduro and his wife are expected in court today.
—Elena Giuliano, NBC news, 5 Jan. 2026
But for now, Maduro’s top lieutenants are still in charge.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026
As part of a cover story on Mamdani’s incoming administration, the magazine ran a photo on the front page showcasing the mayor and his top lieutenants.
—Dominick Mastrangelo, The Hill, 2 Jan. 2026
Her thirst to kill him and his lieutenants leads her on an adventure through Japan’s northernmost island.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025
Many of Musk's top allies and DOGE lieutenants have transitioned to become full-time employees at the agencies they were detailed to.
—Stephen Fowler, NPR, 22 Dec. 2025
Those costs were signed off by the club’s auditors, but also helped Laporta and his lieutenants present a cleaner slate from 2021-22 onwards.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lieutenants
Noun
-
The Rebels found themselves in coach limbo throughout the playoffs, as many assistants are following Kiffin to Baton Rouge.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
With Pete Golding calling the shots after being promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach, and most of the assistants sticking around, the Rebels blew out Tulane to open the playoff and took down mighty Georgia in the CFP quarterfinals.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His top aides are leaking that Cuba may be next on the regime change list.—
Nolan Finley,
Twin Cities,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Trump aides for months have hinted the administration would seek other executive levers to implement the president’s tariff plan.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
And many of those apprentices — in skilled trades, electricians, laborers, carpenters — are already at work strengthening and building the physical foundations of our state.—
Sacramento Bee staff,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The apprentices shopped for and wrapped hundreds of presents for the students.—
Melinda Moore,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The sheriff’s spokesperson said deputies found in the wagon 18 large strands of copper wire that belonged to the transit service, along with burglary tools used in these thefts.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
15 Jan. 2026
-
According to the criminal complaint, a 14-year-old girl told deputies July 28 that a man approached her at the pool in the 15000 block of Farnham Avenue North and made comments about wanting a girlfriend.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The most popular argument against autistic Barbie is that branding one specific doll with one specific set of traits and accessibility aids as the autistic one will have too much influence on how people perceive autism.—
Sarah Kurchak,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
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Bialystok was not involved in the project but has researched second-language acquisition in children and adults, including whether being bilingual delays the progression of Alzheimer’s disease or aids in multitasking and problem-solving.—
Stephen Wade,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
He will be joined by Alastair Stout and Arabella Stanton, who will play Potter’s trusty sidekicks Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, respectively.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
27 Dec. 2025
-
In the taxonomy of political sidekicks, Navarro, who advises on trade, isn’t a carrier of darkly destructive principles, like Miller.—
Ian Parker,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lieutenants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lieutenants. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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