LEADING MAN Synonyms: 14 Similar and Opposite Words

leading man

noun

Definition of leading man

as in leading lady

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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 leading man Kane is coming home to be a supporting actor, not the leading man. — Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 23 July 2026 Filming Christopher Nolan’s epic took a toll on its leading man. — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 22 July 2026 Nolan’s latest leading man, Damon, is no stranger to the filmmaker’s set. — Emma Urdangen, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 New Netflix exclusive The Debt Collector stars popular leading man Nadech Kugimiya as Num, a former hired thug who gets out of prison with just weeks to live. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 17 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for leading man

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leading man

leading lady

Noun

In Sterling Point, Lavoie plays Ellis, a Canadian teen who meets the show‘s leading lady and newcomer to town, Annie, played by Ella Rubin.

— Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 18 Aug. 2026
The streamer has found its leading lady for the biopic, plucking an unknown first-timer to play the sertanejo icon.

— Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of leading lady

Browse Nearby Words

leading lady

leading man

leading men

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Leading man.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leading%20man. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of leading man

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

cogent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 28

Why do we say 'break a leg'?

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes