Definition of cowboynext
as in cowpoke
a hired hand who tends cattle or horses at a ranch or on the range cowboys were rounding up the cattle for branding

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 cowboy Clientele still includes cowboys, ranchers, and professional riders, but these days they're joined by concertgoers and international visitors, especially those currently passing through for the World Cup matches in Dallas. Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 July 2026 These cowboy songs were meant to soothe restless cattle during the night or break the monotony of isolation. Ted Olson, The Conversation, 2 July 2026 Hollywood was founded by daredevils, from the cowboys who galloped here to become stuntmen, to the small-town girls who bucked the pressure to get married and moved west to chase a one-in-a-million dream. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 With their flamboyant costumes and choreography, the group became a pop culture phenomenon, targeting disco's large gay audience with camp fantasy characters of butch builders, bikers, cowboys and soldiers. CBS News, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for cowboy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cowboy
Noun
  • But the grizzled former Man in Black and man-who-failed-to-ground-Maverick isn’t known for playing the type of gruff ol’ cowpoke who’s about to break into song.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 14 May 2026
  • The all-inclusive dude ranch is about a 90-minute drive from Reno, Nevada, and has invited travelers to get in touch with their inner cowpoke since 1962.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 1 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Residents and visitors will line the streets to watch cowhands from various ranches herd more than 30 Longhorns through town, a tradition dating back to when the parade was a downtown cattle drive.
    CBS News, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
  • There are plenty of places to take a horse, with experienced cowhands to guide the way.
    Jenny Peters, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • This hearty meal will satisfy your little (and big) buckaroos.
    Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 13 June 2026
  • The project remains in its early stages, but initial details suggest a more casual, family-friendly approach that aligns with the tone of the buckaroo development.
    Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 4 May 2026
Noun
  • For Daniel Bey, a Kansas City, Kansas, horseman and team roper who competed in last year’s event, the expansion is a clear sign that the rodeo resonated with the community.
    J.M. Banks June 24, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2026
  • The Princess Royal, 75, was married to the Olympic gold medalist horseman from 1973 to 1992.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • The picture-perfect cowman’s paradise of Stockyards City is true to its stripes—and nowhere is this more evident than in Cattlemen’s Steakhouse.
    Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The reply of my friend and hunting companion was one of those quaint, rasping epithets which only a cowman can manage when everything has gone wrong.
    Frank C. Hibben, Outdoor Life, 27 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Lind and Little posed for this behind-the-scenes photo with Berto Colon, who plays Oreana's bodyguard, and Ray McKinnon, who stars as rancher and social misfit Dwight White.
    Samantha Stutsman, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
  • After losing their cattle to disease, the two joined fellow rancher Beulah Jackson (Annette Bening), initially a major adversary, and her 10 Petal Ranch.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cowboy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cowboy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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