1
as in attack dog
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2
as in wordmonger
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Recent Examples of hatchet man
Meanwhile, there have been mass firings at the FBI, reportedly instigated by Trump hatchet man Kash Patel, who awaits Senate confirmation to head the FBI.
—
Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2025
Back home, more pink slips for federal employees go out and the scrutiny of Elon Musk's role as the hatchet man for those agencies intensifies.
—CBS News, 16 Feb. 2025
Musician and producer Grimes made a rare comment involving her ex-partner and father to her three kids, Elon Musk, after their 4-year-old son appeared alongside the tech mogul turned government hatchet man at the White House on Wednesday.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Feb. 2025
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, another of President Vladimir Putin’s hatchet men, advised Americans to vote for Donald Trump or risk being dragged into a nuclear war.
—Mitchell A. Orenstein, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2016
In the twenty-tens, the brothers took up solo careers; Malice converted to Christianity (becoming No Malice), as Pusha T became a hatchet man for Kanye West.
—The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2023
The Mondale inner circle wanted Ferraro to play the traditional running-mate role of hatchet man.
—Maureen Dowd New York Times, Star Tribune, 10 Aug. 2020
In a role reversal from their eight years together in the White House, Barack Obama has become Joe Biden’s wingman and, in his understated way, his hatchet man.
—W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2020
To secure the 1800 presidential election, Thomas Jefferson infamously hired a hatchet man named James Callender to spread false rumors about John Adams wanting a war with France.
—A. G. Hamilton, National Review, 25 Oct. 2019
Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel Editorial Boards, Orlando Sentinel, 21 Feb. 2025
Back home, more pink slips for federal employees go out and the scrutiny of Elon Musk's role as the hatchet man for those agencies intensifies.
—CBS News, 16 Feb. 2025
Musician and producer Grimes made a rare comment involving her ex-partner and father to her three kids, Elon Musk, after their 4-year-old son appeared alongside the tech mogul turned government hatchet man at the White House on Wednesday.
—Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Feb. 2025
Vladimir Zhirinovsky, another of President Vladimir Putin’s hatchet men, advised Americans to vote for Donald Trump or risk being dragged into a nuclear war.
—Mitchell A. Orenstein, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2016
In the twenty-tens, the brothers took up solo careers; Malice converted to Christianity (becoming No Malice), as Pusha T became a hatchet man for Kanye West.
—The New Yorker, 11 Aug. 2023
The Mondale inner circle wanted Ferraro to play the traditional running-mate role of hatchet man.
—Maureen Dowd New York Times, Star Tribune, 10 Aug. 2020
In a role reversal from their eight years together in the White House, Barack Obama has become Joe Biden’s wingman and, in his understated way, his hatchet man.
—W. James Antle Iii, Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2020
To secure the 1800 presidential election, Thomas Jefferson infamously hired a hatchet man named James Callender to spread false rumors about John Adams wanting a war with France.
—A. G. Hamilton, National Review, 25 Oct. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hatchet man
Noun
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The governor took pains to soften his liberal attack dog image, praising the president as a cooperative partner during crisis.—
Lia Russell,
Sacramento Bee,
8 Feb. 2025
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Trump has maligned Pritzker in the press over his appearance while Pritzker was Vice President Kamala Harris' attack dog on the campaign trail, slamming Trump routinely.—
Justin Kaufmann,
Axios,
7 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Amid protests, the shelter weighed whether or not to euthanize Sarge, an almost 2-year-old pit bull mix, or send him to another facility in recent days.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
12 Mar. 2025
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Before long, the roommates welcomed home a pit bull named Remi.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Per the clip, the tiger entered the container first before being raised to safety.—
Brenton Blanchet,
People.com,
7 Mar. 2025
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Decked out with tiger print rugs from Roberto Cavalli Home, leopard print wallpaper, champagne gold displays, green marble panels, and geometric parquet floors, the boutique brings to life the Italian fashion house’s frenetic print-laden aesthetic.—
Marissa Muller,
WWD,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Image Wojnarowski transcended the relative anonymity of most sports scribblers by virtue of his hustle and connections often landing him N.B.A. stories before anyone else.—
Victor Mather,
New York Times,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Try your hand at drawing a model, whether your a pro or a scribbler.—
Amanda Rosa,
Miami Herald,
1 July 2024
Noun
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Fifteen years ago, social media felt like the ultimate marketing hack.—
Adam Ayers,
Rolling Stone,
11 Mar. 2025
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Braungart-Rieker said the laundry hack video is a great example of how it can be done.—
Adrianna Rodriguez,
USA TODAY,
10 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In his newest book, The Maverick's Museum: Albert Barnes and his American Dream (Ecco), art critic and biographer Blake Gopnik—formerly a Newsweek reporter—brings Barnes and his collection to life.—
Blake Gopnik,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
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Franklin, an award-winning biographer, details how Frank’s legacy was formed, and sometimes deformed, by her father, Otto, who survived her.—
The New Yorker,
The New Yorker,
3 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Giannoulias was a coauthor of the Illinois Food Safety Act, which passed the Illinois Senate and is currently before the House of Representatives. Tired of waiting for the FDA, other states have also acted.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN,
11 Mar. 2025
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Ryan Clark, a coauthor and finance Ph.D. candidate at the University of Kansas, calls out that even within individual companies, short interest often barely changes when executives start railing against short sellers.—
Brandon Kochkodin,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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But only hagiographers believe that one man created today’s France.—
Stephen Kotkin,
Foreign Affairs,
18 Apr. 2024
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William’s hagiographer, the monk Thomas of Monmouth, laid out this unsubstantiated account in excruciating detail, leading to the canonization of the dead boy; like mushrooms after rain, accounts of miracles arose around his tomb.—
Talia Lavin,
The New Republic,
29 Sep. 2020
Cite this Entry
“Hatchet man.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hatchet%20man. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.
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