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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 lieutenants
Cook became one of Jobs' loyal lieutenants and was elevated to the role of operations chief in 2005.
—
Jonathan Vanian,jennifer Elias,kif Leswing, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
The immediate future of the inspector general’s office is particularly pressing now because of recent revelations that one of Johnson’s most senior lieutenants, Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Garien Gatewood, had lodged a whistleblower complaint with Witzburg’s office last October.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Most national leaders surround themselves with like-minded lieutenants who share their politics and priorities.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
While House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has yet to take a stance on the deal, several of his top lieutenants have praised it.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026
Harris was succeeded 16 years later, in 2015, by Kunzweiler, who had been one of his top lieutenants.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Babineau, one of his top lieutenants who served as co-head of original content at the network and briefly as Head of Comedy Central Content & Creative Enterprises following Alterman’s exit, left at the end of 2020 after six years.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
While Colligan and top lieutenants continue to report to work, the relationship between the creative execs and Woodrow and Singh is distressed.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
On August 14, 1595, Amador was betrayed by five lieutenants, who captured him and handed him over to the city of São Tomé.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Jonathan Vanian,jennifer Elias,kif Leswing, CNBC, 20 Apr. 2026
The immediate future of the inspector general’s office is particularly pressing now because of recent revelations that one of Johnson’s most senior lieutenants, Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Garien Gatewood, had lodged a whistleblower complaint with Witzburg’s office last October.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Most national leaders surround themselves with like-minded lieutenants who share their politics and priorities.
—Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
While House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has yet to take a stance on the deal, several of his top lieutenants have praised it.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026
Harris was succeeded 16 years later, in 2015, by Kunzweiler, who had been one of his top lieutenants.
—Pamela Colloff, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026
Babineau, one of his top lieutenants who served as co-head of original content at the network and briefly as Head of Comedy Central Content & Creative Enterprises following Alterman’s exit, left at the end of 2020 after six years.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 24 Mar. 2026
While Colligan and top lieutenants continue to report to work, the relationship between the creative execs and Woodrow and Singh is distressed.
—Matt Donnelly, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
On August 14, 1595, Amador was betrayed by five lieutenants, who captured him and handed him over to the city of São Tomé.
—Literary Hub, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lieutenants
Noun
-
The Wall Group negotiates all these deals with cosmetics ambassadorships, hair product lines, top luxury brands like Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Prada, all while monitoring the work of stylists’ assistants to see who’s ready to ascend the ladder.—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Service Employees International Union Local 99, which represents roughly 30,000 support staff, including bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and special education assistants, met with the district Thursday for a mediation session.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That money can go to services such as specialized instruction, classroom aides and assistive technology.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
-
In hospitals, the employees serve as patient care workers such as radiology technologists, nurse’s aides and patient transporters.—
Jaweed Kaleem,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
During the Renaissance, master painters typically employed apprentices to work alongside them as the apprentices learned their craft.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Some of the kinder ones would give a Christmas tip if the apprentices did a good job cleaning their boots but others, basking in the new money of the Premier League, preferred to peacock.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Court records indicate authorities became aware of Jones’ falsified hours through a complaint by the library’s manager, who discovered discrepancies on a log sheet required to be filled out by deputies working there.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Steiner was arrested on March 29 when Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies responded to Palos Verdes Drive South after someone called to report that a man was running in traffic.—
Nicole Macias Garibay,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The deduction primarily aids wealthier Americans with large mortgage payments on their homes.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2026
-
According to the National Institutes of Health, less than a fifth of American adults aged 20 to 69 who could benefit from wearing hearing aids have ever used them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
He-Man is assisted by a ragtag assortment of toy-friendly sidekicks known as the Heroic Warriors; Skeletor's stooges are the similarly imaginatively titled the Evil Warriors.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Can the Spurs win if the sidekicks aren’t sharpshooters?—
Mike Finger,
San Antonio Express-News,
2 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lieutenants.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lieutenants. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
