as in pioneers
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 explorers
The early ticket-tape parades were for military heroes and diplomats and explorers and only in the 1950s did the honor extend to our pro sports champs.
—
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 June 2026
Chicago welcomed the explorers and their wives with a parade along Michigan Avenue that included confetti and honorary citizen medallions.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
Maritime explorers like Ferdinand Magellan and Vasco da Gama.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 10 June 2026
And in America’s 19th century western expansion, the largest mountain in the Teton Range was too alluring for explorers to pass up.
—Alia Beard Rau, USA Today, 10 June 2026
But long before these explorers touched foot on Wyoming’s soil, Native American tribes were already thriving there, living on the land and honoring its sanctity.
—Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Seasoned explorers will generally bring gas meters to check for dangerous levels of fumes, including potentially flammable hydrogen sulfide, which is produced by decomposition, Duncan said.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
Boys are explorers at heart and often learn through play, making messes and adventures part of the journey.
—Bonnie Gibbs Vengrow, Parents, 3 June 2026
These explorers have had the opportunity to taste, see, and feel the most rarified parts of the human experience.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 June 2026
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 15 June 2026
Chicago welcomed the explorers and their wives with a parade along Michigan Avenue that included confetti and honorary citizen medallions.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026
Maritime explorers like Ferdinand Magellan and Vasco da Gama.
—James Horncastle, New York Times, 10 June 2026
And in America’s 19th century western expansion, the largest mountain in the Teton Range was too alluring for explorers to pass up.
—Alia Beard Rau, USA Today, 10 June 2026
But long before these explorers touched foot on Wyoming’s soil, Native American tribes were already thriving there, living on the land and honoring its sanctity.
—Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026
Seasoned explorers will generally bring gas meters to check for dangerous levels of fumes, including potentially flammable hydrogen sulfide, which is produced by decomposition, Duncan said.
—ABC News, 4 June 2026
Boys are explorers at heart and often learn through play, making messes and adventures part of the journey.
—Bonnie Gibbs Vengrow, Parents, 3 June 2026
These explorers have had the opportunity to taste, see, and feel the most rarified parts of the human experience.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explorers
Noun
-
The whole opening of the film pays homage to those pioneers of cinema.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
20 June 2026
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Samuel says every time a student walks in, they're reminded of the legacy of great Black scientific and technological pioneers — historic men and women too often not recognized.—
Ross Guidotti,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
Noun
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The latest diplomatic movement could affect travelers because the Strait of Hormuz has been a major flashpoint in the region.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
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The international clientele is split between Europeans and Americans on endeavors to discover Ancient Egypt, and travelers from Gulf countries on weekend getaways, poised to shop at the many luxury malls in the hotel’s Garden City surroundings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explorers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explorers. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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