merchantman

noun

Definition of merchantmannext
as in freighter

Related 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 merchantman The Navy already has ships in the fleet that are former merchantmen. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 10 Jan. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merchantman
  1. freighter
  2. warship
  3. steamship
  4. steamer
  5. trader
  6. tanker
  7. barge
  8. cruiser
Noun
  • The ship is similar in size and capacity to the Sanchi, an Iranian ship that collided with a freighter off China in 2018 in the world’s worst oil tanker disaster in decades.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Ground handling and tarmac loading have fully resumed, though flight schedules will require another 24-to-48 hours to clear passenger and freighter backlogs.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of freighter
Noun
  • Speaking on a visit to a Russian warship that was taking part in a naval exercise in the Pacific, Putin described the Western moves to detain vessels linked to Russia as a breach of international maritime law.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The warship continues to operate under high-threat conditions, and has been on continuous high alert since the United States launched Operation Epic Fury on February 28, 2026.
    — Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of warship
Noun
  • The ferry also stops on Ellis Island, part of the national park, and is famous for processing more than 12 million immigrant steamship passengers through its federal immigration station from 1892 to 1954.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The seasoning’s name is a nod to the region’s maritime history and is named for the Old Bay Line, a passenger steamship that traveled the Chesapeake Bay between Baltimore and Norfolk, Virginia, in the early 1900s.
    — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 31 July 2026
Definition of steamship
Noun
  • Infused with menthol and essential oils, each steamer releases a refreshing scent for 10 to 15 minutes and is individually wrapped for easy storage or travel.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026
  • With little formal education, Mulholland had left his native Ireland in his teens, worked steamer ships on the Great Lakes, labored in lumber camps and prospected for gold.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of steamer
Noun
  • Treasury yields moved lower as traders dialed back expectations for a September rate hike.
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The decision, which was infamously leaked to Goldman Sachs traders before the public announcement, was reversed in 2005.
    — Greg Ritchie, Fortune, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of trader
Noun
  • At least one ship entered using the Iranian route, and a small tanker laden with Iranian fuel oil exited, data showed.
    — August 17, CBS News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Of the outbound traffic, four vessels — including a tanker laden with 2 million barrels of Saudi crude - sailed with their satellite trackers off.
    — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of tanker
Noun
  • In other parts of the route, the road drops close enough to the river so that drivers can watch barge traffic on the Mississippi.
    — Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 29 July 2026
  • Once the plant reaches the end of its operational lifespan, tugboats will tow the entire barge to a specialized shipyard for decommissioning.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 29 July 2026
Definition of barge
Noun
  • Federal prosecutors have charged seven people in connection with the Main Street overpass attack, alleging several worked together to target the CHP cruiser and the officers trapped beneath it.
    — Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Buttery defended that decision, saying an employee operating a cruiser or unmarked car has no expectation of privacy.
    — Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of cruiser

Browse Nearby Words

merchantable
merchantman
merchantmen
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Merchantman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merchantman. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All