as in shepherd
a tender of livestock
a lone herdsman stood with his sheep and his dog on the hillside
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Recent Examples of herdsman
Masud was celebrated as the literary voice of greater Arabia’s nomadic herdsmen—proud sons of the desert, a noble caste of unhurried sybarites not known for their religious orthodoxy.
—
Nell Zink, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Unlike the Islamic extremists that staged the Chibok kidnappings, the deadly criminal gangs terrorizing villages in northwestern Nigeria are mostly former herdsmen who were in conflict with farming host communities, according to authorities.
—Chinedu Asadu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2024
In 1997, Thimphu told Beijing that Tibetan herdsmen had been intruding into the Jakarlung valley and even constructed sheds there, according to Bhutan’s National Assembly records cited by Barnett.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
How to find Arcturus: Located in the northern constellation Boötes, the herdsman, the star can be seen from spring to fall in the United States.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for herdsman
Nell Zink, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2025
Unlike the Islamic extremists that staged the Chibok kidnappings, the deadly criminal gangs terrorizing villages in northwestern Nigeria are mostly former herdsmen who were in conflict with farming host communities, according to authorities.
—Chinedu Asadu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2024
In 1997, Thimphu told Beijing that Tibetan herdsmen had been intruding into the Jakarlung valley and even constructed sheds there, according to Bhutan’s National Assembly records cited by Barnett.
—Simone McCarthy, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
How to find Arcturus: Located in the northern constellation Boötes, the herdsman, the star can be seen from spring to fall in the United States.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for herdsman
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herdsman
Noun
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The surrendered dogs consisted of several different breeds, including shepherd mixes, pit bull-terrier mixes, lab mixes, a hound mix and a pit bull-terrier-akita mix, according to police.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
26 July 2025
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Where to Eat: Shitake mushroom dumplings and Brazilian hanger steak are on the menu at Barley & Salt Taphouse Irish pub May Kelly’s Cottage serves up shepherd’s pie and potato cakes.—
Melanie Haiken,
Outside Online,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Silverlake Cowboy The style dubbed Silverlake Cowboy blends together the modern hipster and a traditional cowboy aesthetic.—
Logan Holland,
People.com,
22 July 2025
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Want a swoony cowboy romance or a short, speedy book?—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
17 July 2025
Noun
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The herders follow the changing rain patterns, which brings them into conflict with the sedentary farmers.—
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
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Genuine, moral human equality is certainly not self-evident to Taliban-supporting Islamist goat herders in Afghanistan.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Herdsman.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herdsman. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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