as in staff
a body of persons at work or available for work
we're a little short on manpower today, so we'll need you to do some extra tasks
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Recent Examples of manpower
Firefighters arrived within minutes, but due to heavy fire conditions and the home's rural location, additional assistance, including manpower and water supply, was requested.
—
Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
In New England, where manpower shortages made exclusion impractical, Black men served in militias from the 1600s onward.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
With that in mind, analysts believe a bigger issue in committing to releasing 30 new films over 52 weeks is one of manpower.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
The select board has set a deadline of March 17 for a license to be awarded, arguing police and security officials must lay out for materials and manpower months ahead of the event.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Ukraine’s manpower shortages irk her, as does the criticism of strongarm recruitment efforts.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
In exchange for subsidized oil shipments that kept Cuba’s struggling economy afloat, Havana provided the expertise and manpower to help Caracas maintain internal control during periods of political unrest, according to current and former officials.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Both Russia and Ukraine face a growing manpower crisis.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The Southington Fire Department said that mutual aid assisted with manpower, specialty equipment, rope rescue operations and patient packaging for removal from the woods.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 2 Mar. 2026
In New England, where manpower shortages made exclusion impractical, Black men served in militias from the 1600s onward.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
With that in mind, analysts believe a bigger issue in committing to releasing 30 new films over 52 weeks is one of manpower.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 27 Feb. 2026
The select board has set a deadline of March 17 for a license to be awarded, arguing police and security officials must lay out for materials and manpower months ahead of the event.
—Adam Crafton, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Ukraine’s manpower shortages irk her, as does the criticism of strongarm recruitment efforts.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
In exchange for subsidized oil shipments that kept Cuba’s struggling economy afloat, Havana provided the expertise and manpower to help Caracas maintain internal control during periods of political unrest, according to current and former officials.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
Both Russia and Ukraine face a growing manpower crisis.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026
The Southington Fire Department said that mutual aid assisted with manpower, specialty equipment, rope rescue operations and patient packaging for removal from the woods.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for manpower
Noun
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Call it the Michael Rider effect (as Vogue’s Nicole Phelps did in our staff meeting) but nowhere is the runway-to-reality pipeline as tangible as here.—
Talia Abbas,
Vogue,
28 Feb. 2026
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But after Ambassador Graham Martin was airlifted to safety with the embassy’s American flag, the helicopter evacuation had been canceled — the result of a misunderstanding, as air staff didn’t realize a group of Marines was still waiting to be picked up.—
Harrison Smith,
Washington Post,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
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And signals so far indicate that China is also aware of the impact this vision will have on its workforce – and the need to invest in training and education.—
Simone McCarthy,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
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This change arrives at a moment when many small businesses are already struggling to navigate mounting uncertainty, rising input costs, workforce shortages and tighter credit markets.—
Krish O'Mara Vignarajah,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The subsequent yearslong conflict killed 179 British troops, some 4,500 American personnel and many thousands of Iraqis.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Mar. 2026
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Probably very little, outside of Webb having a more active hand in Denver’s meetings with prospects and decision-making in the Broncos’ overall utilization of personnel.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Cape Maclear, Lake Malawi An enormous inland pool of clear water stretching as far as the eye can see, Lake Malawi offers many opportunities for affordable lakeside leisure.—
Melanie van Zyl,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Mar. 2026
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Elephantine blue sweet prawns crowd the pool of lemon juice seasoned like the classic Thai soup, with fragrant lemongrass and ginger.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Manpower.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/manpower. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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