as in assistants
a person who helps a more skilled person
movie heroes invariably have a trusty sidekick, who often provides comic relief
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Recent Examples of sidekicks
Joining him are a cavalry of superstar sidekicks, some of whom might be in high school right now.
—
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
Bone-in ham steak flops over the rim of its plate, and the table surface is erased when an entrée’s sidekicks — yeast-fragrant rolls the size of baseballs, a green salad practically obscured by a snow-white dollop of the house dressing — are dropped off.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2026
If only there were some way to include bounty hunters, cute sidekicks, starship pilots, aliens, politics, and lightsaber battles between the dark side and the light into one movie, maybe even, a trilogy.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026
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
At the holiday feast, these dependable and delectable sidekicks show up as wines and spirits.
—Essence, 26 Nov. 2025
The footage offers a rare peek into the unique bond between whales and their sticky sidekicks, though plenty of questions remain.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
Two butterflies make for Glinda’s sidekicks.
—Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Cam Inman, Mercury News, 1 Feb. 2026
Bone-in ham steak flops over the rim of its plate, and the table surface is erased when an entrée’s sidekicks — yeast-fragrant rolls the size of baseballs, a green salad practically obscured by a snow-white dollop of the house dressing — are dropped off.
—Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 17 Jan. 2026
If only there were some way to include bounty hunters, cute sidekicks, starship pilots, aliens, politics, and lightsaber battles between the dark side and the light into one movie, maybe even, a trilogy.
—Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026
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
At the holiday feast, these dependable and delectable sidekicks show up as wines and spirits.
—Essence, 26 Nov. 2025
The footage offers a rare peek into the unique bond between whales and their sticky sidekicks, though plenty of questions remain.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 12 Nov. 2025
Two butterflies make for Glinda’s sidekicks.
—Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE, 4 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidekicks
Noun
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Studies show annual turnover among nursing assistants can approach 100%, and home care roles see turnover rates of around 75%, reflecting both burnout and unstable hours.—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
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The move follows the unionization of production assistants with the same labor group on Chicago Fire in December.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Cuts to the program — including approximately $1 trillion in reductions passed in recent legislation — could ripple through agencies that employ aides and nursing assistants.—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
13 Feb. 2026
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Bilingual aides alone would drop by over a fifth, with about 24 positions cut.—
Grace Zokovitch,
Boston Herald,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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By drawing attention to practices at their most fragile moment, the USL is creating space for those interactions — enabling masters to teach and apprentices to learn.—
Kristin Houser,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
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The pope, at this very moment, is having the fallen part of the Colosseum rebuilt; half a dozen mason’s apprentices, without any scaffolding, are righting the colossus on whose shoulders a nation, transformed into slave laborers, perished.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Gravel pathways and a few unavoidable stairs here and there shouldn’t cause significant issues for travelers unreliant on walking aids.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Feb. 2026
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Side-view and rear-view cameras are invaluable driving aids and are manufacturer marketing favorites.—
James Raia,
Mercury News,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
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While investigating the shooting, deputies arrested a suspect in a carjacking that took place nearby, according to the Sheriff’s Department.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
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Sheriff’s deputies in Ray County are encouraging individuals to avoid the Sunshine Lake area Thursday evening as first responders battle a blaze affecting several structures in the area.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sidekicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidekicks. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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