spearhead

noun

spear·head | \ ˈspir-ˌhed

Definition of spearhead

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the sharp-pointed head of a spear

2 : a leading element, force, or influence in an undertaking or development

spearhead

verb

spearheaded; spearheading; spearheads

Definition of spearhead (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to serve as leader or leading element of

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about spearhead

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Synonyms for spearhead

Synonyms: Verb

boss, captain, command, head, lead

Examples of spearhead in a Sentence

Noun

Her book was the spearhead of the clean water movement.

Verb

She spearheaded the campaign for better schools. The movement was spearheaded by the teachers' union.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

And on the right, Gen. J. Lawton Collins led his U.S. 7th Corps toward Utah Beach with the 4th Infantry Division as his spearhead. — Washington Post, "AP Was There: D-Day correspondent returns 10 years later," 4 June 2019 The 27-year-old was the spearhead to Leicester's title winning season in 2016, alongside England forward Jamie Vardy. — SI.com, "Man City Target Spotted in Manchester & Undergoes Medical Ahead of Big-Money Transfer," 10 July 2018 In response to the Crimea annexation, NATO created a 5,000-troop spearhead force that can deploy to trouble spots within days. — Daniel Michaels, WSJ, "NATO, Under Fire From Trump, to Trumpet Its Heightened Readiness," 6 July 2018 Pompeo, who is helping spearhead conversations ahead of a possible summit with North Korea next month, met with Kim for dinner Wednesday night. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, "Pompeo speaks to press after meeting with North Korea official — live updates," 31 May 2018 Weapons like spearheads, swords, shield fragments, iron knives and an axe were also uncovered. — Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, "Ancient human bones are proof of 'barbarian' war rituals 2,000 years ago in Europe," 21 May 2018 So the motorcycles range out in front of the armored spearheads, in front of the airpower looking for weaknesses in the enemy lines. — Fox News, "What threats face America's electrical grid?," 23 Apr. 2018 The spearheads themselves appear to have been made both with local materials, such as flint, and resources imported from hundreds of miles away. — Aristos Georgiou, Newsweek, "Hundreds of 12,000-year-old Spearheads and Arrowheads Found in Peru by Archaeologists," 14 Mar. 2018 The ancient spearheads will now be analyzed to determine the techniques used to manufacture them before going on display at the Regional Museum of Ica. — Aristos Georgiou, Newsweek, "Hundreds of 12,000-year-old Spearheads and Arrowheads Found in Peru by Archaeologists," 14 Mar. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

At that time, Dianne Irby was the city’s executive director of planning and development who was spearheading the project. — al.com, "In Mobile Civic Center project, key neighborhood group claims ‘we’ve been ignored’," 1 July 2019 And the President’s Ray Award went to ESC of Medina County Superintendent Will Koran, who spearheaded the club’s literacy and Rotary Foundation programs along with his leadership with Wine & Roses, the annual fundraiser. — Sam Boyer, cleveland.com, "Eagles send check to help Ohioans hit by severe weather: Whit & Whimsey," 28 June 2019 David Karem, who for decades has spearheaded efforts to improve Louisville's Waterfront Park, is stepping down as president of the Waterfront Development Corp., the organization announced Thursday. — Lucas Aulbach, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville's waterfront redevelopment leader, David Karem, to retire," 27 June 2019 Tessa Thompson and Chris Hemsworth star in the film as Agent M and Agent H, who spearhead the London bureau of the agency that is charged with protecting and concealing the Earth from an alien species. — Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, "Box Office: 'Men in Black: International' Picks Up $3M in Thursday Previews," 14 June 2019 This anthology, drawing from the New York Public Library’s archives, chronicles the fight for LGBTQ rights in the 1960s and celebrates the activists who spearheaded it. — Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, "10 new LGBTQ books to celebrate Pride month: Tan France, 'Gentleman Jack,' 'Gender Queer'," 9 June 2019 Eric Trump's wife, Lara Trump, who has spearheaded Mr. Trump's reelection efforts, was also present. — Kathryn Watson, CBS News, "Why were Trump's adult children on his state visit to the U.K.?," 5 June 2019 The event also honored former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, who spearheaded much of the work in creating the city's charter school sector. — Arika Herron, Indianapolis Star, "Former U.S. Secretary of Education John King on what Indianapolis gets right about education," 4 June 2019 The film, an international co-production with BBC Studios, Channel 4, and House Productions, stars Benedict Cumberbatch as the man who spearheaded that campaign: Dominic Cummings. — Rachel Withers, Vox, "Brits want an official investigation into the Brexit Leave campaign. They’re getting an HBO drama instead.," 15 Dec. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spearhead.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.