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henchman

henchman

14 7.9
A person who helps a powerful person break the law, often secretly
  • noun
  • /ˈhɛnʧmən/
translation icon : esbirro
  • Every time the crime lord made a move, his henchman was by his side, prepared to support him.

I generally get put as the bad guy henchman.

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Examples

  • And he sent his most powerful henchman to collect it, Scourge.

  • Well, you know he's a henchman for Dr. Evil.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • It's like a henchman who works for a demon.

  • People never think about how things affect the family of the henchman.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • As you know, your brother Steven was a henchman in Dr. Evil's Private Army.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • Simon and his wacky henchman, Cad, schemed to rule the universe.

  • The villain's henchman followed him patiently, ready to carry out any orders.

  • In the movie, the henchman was fiercely loyal, helping the criminal mastermind escape police capture.

Synonyms

accomplice
vshenchman
172 6.7

Person who helps another person commit a crime

is a loyal subordinate who serves a powerful person's criminal interests
acolyte
vshenchman
14 7.5

A person who loyally helps and supports an important leader

is similar but is specifically tied to aiding immoral or criminal acts
lackey
vshenchman
  • Offensive
5 9.0

A man who works as a servant in a rich house and obeys orders

is a loyal supporter who often actively assists immoral or criminal schemes
collaborator
vshenchman
  • Offensive
3 5.6

A person who helps someone secretly, often in a crime

is a loyal subordinate who serves a powerful person's criminal interests
henchwoman
vshenchman
1 8.9

A woman who helps a powerful person do wrong or illegal things

is the gender-neutral or general term rather than the female form

Antonyms

1.0

A person who wants to harm or defeat you

907 2.1

A person who competes against another in a game or argument

How Loyal

henchman
14 7.9
lieutenant
  • US
65 6.4
accomplice
172 6.7
supporter
817 1.0
associate
533 3.2

Surface Forms

henchman singular
henchmen plural

Etymology

Henchman comes from an old word hengest meaning 'horse' or 'stallion', so it first named a man who looked after a lord's horses. Over time it came to mean any close helper or follower, and today a henchman usually means a loyal helper of a powerful, often bad, person.