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
After all, what would the Bond film franchise be without love interests, sidekicks and, of course, villainesses?
—
John Russell, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Before ensemble sitcoms like Seinfeld, before oddball sidekicks became television staples, there was Ed Norton—the sewer worker with boundless optimism played by Carney on The Honeymooners.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 15 May 2026
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
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
John Russell, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Before ensemble sitcoms like Seinfeld, before oddball sidekicks became television staples, there was Ed Norton—the sewer worker with boundless optimism played by Carney on The Honeymooners.
—Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 15 May 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sidekicks
Noun
-
Jonatan Giráldez now coaches Lyon after winning two Women’s Champions League titles at Barcelona when Pere Romeu was one of his assistants.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 May 2026
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Prior to that, the role was held by Spoelstra assistants Butler (2023), Malik Allen (2021, ’22), as well as Chris Quinn (2017, ’18), Dan Craig (2013, ’15 and ’16), Juwan Howard (2014) and David Fizdale (2010, ’11 and ’12).—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
23 May 2026
Noun
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The Indian Prairie Classified Association is made up of more than 600 staff members in the district, who serve as support staff — as teacher assistants, health aides, school secretaries, dean’s assistants, Library Media Center assistants, receptionists and copy clerks, according to IPCA’s website.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2026
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But the president reportedly began to sour on Gabbard after one of her top aides resigned in protest of the Iran war.—
Brooke Migdon,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Noun
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For one year as well, apprentices stay protected, working with a senior employee to avoid burning out.—
Megan Shinn,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
Arthur Bryant’s and Gates Bar-B-Q, whose origins can be traced back to Henry Perry through his apprentices decades ago.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
4 May 2026
Noun
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This pervasive tendency to lean into the performance advantages of modern powertrains and driver aids is sending the wrong message, IIHS argues, which may actually contribute to aggressive driving and, ultimately, to more-frequent crashes and speeding infractions.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
14 May 2026
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For people who use hearing aids, though, that process becomes a lot harder.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Noun
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The deputies then turned off the body camera microphones, according to court records.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
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After the Kia exited the freeway at Douglas Boulevard in Roseville, deputies deployed a spike strip, Igoe said.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sidekicks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sidekicks. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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