Many moons ago, I was a seaman.
Source: tatoeba (1103061)
Seaman
/ˈsiːmən/
Synonyms for "seaman" (88 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: mariner, seafarer, crew, ab, able seaman.
- Sentence evidence is available for seaman, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "seaman".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "seaman"
Keep "seaman" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "seaman" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "seaman", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "seaman" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
7 entriesMore specific
5 entriesCollocations
6 entriesInflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesTranslations
16 translations across 15 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- матрос noun (naval rank)
Chinese Mandarin
1 entries- 水兵 noun (naval rank)
Dutch
1 entries- matroos noun (naval rank)
Erzya
1 entries- ведюшман noun (naval rank)
Finnish
2 entries- matruusi noun (naval rank)
- ylimatruusi noun (naval rank)
French
1 entries- matelot noun (naval rank)
German
1 entries- Matrose noun (naval rank)
Greek
1 entries- ναύτης noun (naval rank)
Japanese
1 entries- 水兵 noun (naval rank)
Korean
1 entries- 수병 noun (naval rank)
Macedonian
1 entries- по́морец noun (naval rank)
Māori
1 entries- hēramana noun (naval rank)
Polish
1 entries- marynarz noun (naval rank)
Russian
1 entries- матро́с noun (naval rank)
Ukrainian
1 entries- матро́с noun (naval rank)
Sample sentences
12 total sentences available.
You can put me in jail, but you cannot give me narrower quarters than as a seaman I have always had; you cannot give me coarser food than as a seaman I have always eaten; you cannot make me lonelier than as a seaman I have always been.
Source: tatoeba (2099634)
Tom is a seaman.
Source: tatoeba (2724470)
The seaman apprentice, sitting on a stool in a bar, ordered a beer while waiting for his basket of fish and chips.
Source: tatoeba (4465016)
Showing 4 of 12 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "seaman"?
Closest matches include mariner, seafarer, crew, ab, able seaman.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "seaman"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.