as in minion
disapproving
a trusted follower or supporter who performs unpleasant, wrong, or illegal tasks for a powerful person (such as a politician or criminal)
a gangster surrounded by his henchmen
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Recent Examples of henchman
Key witnesses in the government’s case included Spann’s top henchmen, who cooperated with prosecutors in hopes for leniency.
—
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
This is potentially disastrous, given that Josh is now in the custody of the chairwoman’s henchmen.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
The franchise began with Despicable Me, which introduced Steve Carell as Gru, a supervillain accompanied by small, yellow, gibberish-speaking henchmen known as the Minions.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
Researchers argued that career anxiety under autocracy creates both pro-regime henchmen and anti-regime plotters.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for henchman
Jason Meisner, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
This is potentially disastrous, given that Josh is now in the custody of the chairwoman’s henchmen.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
The franchise began with Despicable Me, which introduced Steve Carell as Gru, a supervillain accompanied by small, yellow, gibberish-speaking henchmen known as the Minions.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 15 Apr. 2026
Researchers argued that career anxiety under autocracy creates both pro-regime henchmen and anti-regime plotters.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for henchman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for henchman
Noun
-
Your president and his minions spread war, chaos, lies and economic instability.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Scott Quigley, a loyal minion of yet another septuagenarian Democrat hack DA, Marian Ryan of Middlesex County.—
Howie Carr,
Boston Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Christie deserves the target on her back due to horrific working conditions at her uppity stores, one managed by a lap dog of a Smith disciple (Will Poulter) who demands workers take the fastest lunch break on record.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
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Xabi Alonso has been exposed to far too much elite football wisdom to be labelled a mere Guardiola disciple, but his style of play offers the path to a positive form of continuity while his status in the game commands far greater respect than any BlueCo hire since Mauricio Pochettino.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
The clinic was close to the partition, where Israeli soldiers often fired their weapons.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
During the hike, one of the soldiers fell into the ocean.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Henchman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/henchman. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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