as in pioneer
someone who is the first to do something or be somewhere
The deep-sea explorer set out to discover shipwrecks long lost to history.
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Recent Examples of explorer
Freedom250 is promising attendees an interactive experience at the state pavilions, from Michigan's mechanical milking cow to Florida's re-creation of a Spanish fort honoring explorer Juan Ponce de León.
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Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
18 June 2026
Onboard was Hamish Harding, 58, a British explorer and pilot; Shahzada Dawood, 48, a British-Pakistani businessman, and his son Suleman, 19; Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a leading authority on the Titanic wreck site; and Stockton Rush, the founder of OceanGate.
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Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
The latter honors the explorers who made their way out West in the 1800s.
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Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
17 June 2026
Quebec City was founded by French explorer Samuel de Champlain.
—
USA Today,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for explorer
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
18 June 2026
Onboard was Hamish Harding, 58, a British explorer and pilot; Shahzada Dawood, 48, a British-Pakistani businessman, and his son Suleman, 19; Paul-Henri Nargeolet, a leading authority on the Titanic wreck site; and Stockton Rush, the founder of OceanGate.
—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
18 June 2026
The latter honors the explorers who made their way out West in the 1800s.
—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
17 June 2026
Quebec City was founded by French explorer Samuel de Champlain.
—
USA Today,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for explorer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explorer
Noun
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The Berliners are well known in the business world through Amy’s Kitchen, the organic-food pioneer that helped bring natural and vegetarian frozen meals into mainstream grocery aisles.
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German physicist Max Planck was one of the pioneers of quantum mechanics in the early 20th century, earning the 1918 Nobel Prize in Physics for his discovery of quanta.
Noun
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Affordable July 4 destinations July 4 may be a peak travel period, but travelers can still snag some solid deals for a beach vacation.
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Weekend travelers also come in by road from Guadalajara.
Noun
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Just like a certain adventurer with some mean, mean pride, Rush are currently embarking on their fiftieth anniversary tour, a prog-rock pilgrimage that will take them around the world and back for the next year.
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Whether your dad's an adventurer or casual explorer, this new slip-in style is a shoo-in to make your dad's Father's day — scratch that, his year.
Noun
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Through each voyager’s distinct perspective, the book explores artificial intelligence, social media, and the effects of extended isolation.
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Murphy, the traditional voyager, is Native Hawaiian.
Cite this Entry
“Explorer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explorer. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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