as in founder
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor
as the initiator of printing from movable type, Gutenberg revolutionized people's access to written language
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Recent Examples of initiator
PiqlFilm is also the initiator of the Arctic World Archive (AWA), a repository for world memory located in Northern Norway on the Arctic Ocean.
—
Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The mega-stars and Göteborg natives Alicia Vikander and Ruben Östlund are major supporters of the festival – Alicia as initiator of the Alicia Vikander Film Lab which supports next gen filmmakers in Góteborg and Ruben as Honorary President.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Jan. 2026
The Blazers’ injuries have forced Avdija to be the lead initiator on this team, and he’s taken to that role really well.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
As the initiator, the numerology of 2026 is asking us to take a starring role in our lives.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2025
His focus was less on scoring and more on orchestrating plays, acting as the primary initiator of the Spurs’ offense.
—Evan Dammarell, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Plenty of brands already offer or are transitioning to TPO-free formulas that contain different photoinitiators (a chemical that makes gel polishes cure under a lamp instead of air-drying like regular polish) such as TPO-L, BAPO, or other resin initiators.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 5 Sep. 2025
Wheeler was the initiator, Marcus Smith said Tuesday.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2025
Among the customers of our online prenup platform, First, roughly 50% of our prenup initiators are women.
—Libby Leffler, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025
Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The mega-stars and Göteborg natives Alicia Vikander and Ruben Östlund are major supporters of the festival – Alicia as initiator of the Alicia Vikander Film Lab which supports next gen filmmakers in Góteborg and Ruben as Honorary President.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Jan. 2026
The Blazers’ injuries have forced Avdija to be the lead initiator on this team, and he’s taken to that role really well.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
As the initiator, the numerology of 2026 is asking us to take a starring role in our lives.
—Christina Pérez, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2025
His focus was less on scoring and more on orchestrating plays, acting as the primary initiator of the Spurs’ offense.
—Evan Dammarell, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Plenty of brands already offer or are transitioning to TPO-free formulas that contain different photoinitiators (a chemical that makes gel polishes cure under a lamp instead of air-drying like regular polish) such as TPO-L, BAPO, or other resin initiators.
—Hannah Nwoko, Parents, 5 Sep. 2025
Wheeler was the initiator, Marcus Smith said Tuesday.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2025
Among the customers of our online prenup platform, First, roughly 50% of our prenup initiators are women.
—Libby Leffler, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiator
Noun
-
The airspace closure is expected to be extremely disruptive for El Paso, a major industrial hub, Robert Moore, the founder and CEO of news site El Paso Matters, told CNN.—
Karina Tsui,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Star Parker is founder of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The fallout from the files has consumed much of the news media in recent weeks, dominating headlines and coverage at major news institutions as journalists and independent creators dig through the files for embarrassing nuggets of association about high-profile individuals.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Anika Gandhi is a former electrical engineer and the creator of Anika’s DIY Life, an approachable online resource for beginners interested in power tools, woodworking, and other DIY projects.—
Kate Donovan,
Martha Stewart,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Students are invited to honor Black inventors by reimagining their creations as modern solutions, building entrepreneurial skills and sharing bold ideas with the audience.—
Mike Danahey,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
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The first name considered for the award was the Eddie, after phonograph inventor Thomas Edison.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Annemarie and Michael Greipel are also credited as co-authors.—
Amanda Hancock,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The authors that explore the vastness of the heart often serve as our guides.—
Hannah Benson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Holly didn't have access to the safe except for brief times when it was opened by his father, according to the lawyer.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
5 Feb. 2026
-
These abuses include the murder of inmates’ infants, a fact that galvanizes the pregnant Alouette (the father of her child, Étienne, is a quarryman) into joining a plan for escape through the Paris sewers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Initiator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiator. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
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