INITIATOR Synonyms: 42 Similar and Opposite Words

initiator

noun

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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of initiator And when Aaron's healthier, that's an initiator of our offense as well. — Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026 History suggests that wars aimed at reshaping political systems hardly ever unfold as their initiators intend. — Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026 Peterson is breathtakingly talented as a scorer and on-ball initiator, but health concerns have marred an otherwise impressive freshman season. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026 The researchers used liquid metal particles (LMPs) as initiators for polymerization, the chemical process used to form the hydrogel network. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 3 June 2026 Ausar Thompson is the Pistons’ second-most effective offensive initiator after Cunningham. — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026 Los Angeles also employed Luke Kennard as a ballhandler and initiator, and guard Marcus Smart is back after missing nearly three weeks with a right ankle injury. — ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026 His top recommendation for the latter was Pitzock, the restaurant run by his uncle Oskar Messner, one of the initiators of the Slow Food movement in the valley and among the most knowledgeable sources in the region on local ingredients and tradition. — Jenn Rice, Travel + Leisure, 7 May 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiator

Noun

Another room is dedicated to the founder of California’s mission system, Father Junípero Serra.

— Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
Other guests in attendance include AMC Theatres CEO Adam Aron, Steven Spielberg, Bob Iger, Dana Walden, Universal Music Group chairman Lucian Grainge, Republic Records founders Monte and Avery Lipman and Swift’s longtime tour promoter Louie Messina.

— Jack Dunn, Variety, 3 July 2026

Definition of founder

Noun

Both the primary and extension drive use the standard 1/4-inch hex specification, which, according to the creators, will cover over 95% of random everyday tasks – from bicycle maintenance to small home repairs and furniture assembly.

— Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 6 July 2026
News of the upcoming film comes four months after Tilly Norwood's creators released a music video featuring the AI creation appearing to sing a song addressing the public backlash to it.

— Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 6 July 2026

Definition of creator

Noun

The series features intimate conversations with trailblazers like YouTube co-founder Steve Chen, USB inventor Ajay Bhatt, NBA star Jeremy Lin, television chef Martin Yan and many others, highlighting the impact of AAPIs in various sectors.

— Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
The inventor of basketball, James Naismith first brought the sport to Lawrence.

— Emily Harter, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026

Definition of inventor

Noun

Older students and professionals face an existential struggle to find a job, according to Yahya Alhamarna, a 24-year-old author displaced in Gaza City.

— Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
Others, including author Jenny Han and singer Benson Boone, walked straight down the sidewalk in full wedding attire.

— Bryan West, USA Today, 4 July 2026

Definition of author

Noun

The news of the arrest caught the attention of the family of Amy McHale, a woman who was once married to Horsch’s father and disappeared nearly 10 years ago.

— Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 1 July 2026
Her oldest sister, Sonia Gonzalez, said Gonzalez reminds her a lot of their father, who reinvented himself many times over the years.

— Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

Definition of father

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“Initiator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiator. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of initiator

noun

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