as in settler
a person who settles in a new region
the hardships that the pioneers endured while taming the wilderness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in first
coming before all others in time or order
the nation's pioneer institution for the education of African-Americans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to establish
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of
he single-handedly pioneered the university's institute for medical research
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pioneer
Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025
WeChat is often seen as the pioneer of super apps, a term that refers to an application with multiple functions, such as messaging and payments.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 17 June 2025
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 20 June 2025
McCallany and Jonathan Groff starred as the fictional Tench and Holden Ford, based on the FBI agents who pioneered the modern system of serial-killer profiling.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Noun
Past honorees have included educators, pastors, philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, artists, medical pioneers, entrepreneurs, researchers, advocates for veterans and those with disabilities and small business owners who give back to the community.
—Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 June 2025
WeChat is often seen as the pioneer of super apps, a term that refers to an application with multiple functions, such as messaging and payments.
—Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 17 June 2025
Adjective
In tandem with the modernist movement of the 20th century was the Danish concept of functionalism; a design philosophy of form follows function, which was introduced by pioneer Danish architects like Poul Henningsen and Vilhelm Lauritzen.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
To solve this issue, scientists have pioneered a plan to introduce frozen bubbles messages as a new method of communication.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 20 June 2025
McCallany and Jonathan Groff starred as the fictional Tench and Holden Ford, based on the FBI agents who pioneered the modern system of serial-killer profiling.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pioneer
Noun
-
Changing forests fueled tick risks During the 18th and 19th centuries, settlers cleared more than half the forested land across the northeastern U.S., cutting down forests for timber and to make way for farms, towns and mining operations.—
Sean Lawrence,
The Conversation,
18 June 2025
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Before European settlers arrived in California and insisted on suppressing fire at every turn, the landscape burned regularly.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2025
Adjective
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The first helicopter airline in Greece, hoper, has added four new destinations to its route map: Ios, Syros, Anafi and Porto Heli.—
Ramsey Qubein,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
-
This is not the first time the council has approved increasing ticket prices.—
Jasmine Mendez,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
Verb
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And the state Riley Act, also passed in 1933, required California local governments to establish a building department and inspect new construction.—
Rong-Gong Lin II,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
-
For this historic journey, Kipyegon utilized male pacers to help establish the pace of the race.—
Katelyn Hutchison,
Forbes.com,
29 June 2025
Noun
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The community’s festive send-off identifies this as an important rite of passage, though the gatekeeper reminds Spike that no rescuers or search parties will be sent after colonists that fail to return.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
18 June 2025
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For most white Americans, and especially enslavers, the white colonists of Saint Domingue experiencing these changes were a focus of racial empathy.—
Time,
Time,
9 June 2025
Adjective
-
Phishing Email Detection And Response Phishing remains the most common initial attack vector.—
Karan Alang,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
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Disclaimer: For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
1 July 2025
Verb
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The start-up founded in 2020 by Cristina Di Carlo and Matteo Corbellini, CEO and chief technology officer, respectively, boasts the patented proprietary solution Miktòs geared at the management of textile waste, which is turned into raw material alternative to virgin or recycled plastics.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
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Lululemon was founded in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1998 and has emerged as a leading retailer in the fashionable athletic space.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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One of the Jet Propulsion Lab’s foremost scientists says the futuristic outpost is still hoping against hope that the president’s plan for NASA will be overturned by Congress.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Giard grew up to become both a voracious reader (with a B.A. in English and American literature from Yale and an M.A. in comparative literature from Boston University) and a foremost chronicler of writers.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
28 June 2025
Verb
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The water initiates a chemical reaction that lasts about six hours.—
Tim Carter,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2025
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Mamdani, a democratic socialist, shocked political observers Tuesday by leading New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo by 7 points before New York even began initiating the ranked choice calculations, drawing a concession from Cuomo and declaring victory himself.—
Tara Suter,
The Hill,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pioneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pioneer. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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