leader

noun

ˈlē-dər How to pronounce leader (audio)
Definition of leadernext
1
as in pioneer
one that takes the lead or sets an example an architectural firm that is widely regarded as a leader in innovative residential design

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boss
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do the team leader is good at making sure that everyone keeps busy at their assigned tasks

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in conduit
a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) the leader funnels water off of the roof and down into the cistern

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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 leader Max Hollein was appointed to that role in 2018, and by 2020, working together, the two leaders had balanced the budget. — Hilarie M. Sheets, ARTnews.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Why the ceasefire and diesel deals caught some leaders by surprise. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026 VMware has been a leader in virtualization for decades, resulting in a wide range of enterprise products. — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026 Thirty-five percent of enterprise leaders who track at least one growth measure report strongly positive ROI, compared with 13% of those who track efficiency alone. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leader
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leader
  1. pioneer
  2. boss
  3. conduit
  4. pacesetter
  5. foreman
  6. pipe
  7. captain
  8. channel
Noun
  • The book covers an enormous chunk of British screen history (1896 to 2001), with each chapter uncovering and illuminating the careers of early Black screen pioneers.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Jeddah’s Athr Gallery is debuting with Mosly and a second pioneer of Saudi modernism, Abdulrahman Alsulaiman.
    — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of pioneer
Noun
  • Hey, the boss needs a favor In a November 2025 Reddit post, one person described buying $800 in Target gift cards on their second day at a new job after receiving an email impersonating their boss.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Greg Yacoubian, a labor attorney, said there is little incentive for the current system to change because the costs of lawsuits are passed on to taxpayers — not the officers involved in misconduct and their bosses.
    — Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of boss
Noun
  • The organization is helping provide fliers the family can use to canvas the area and will serve as a conduit with law enforcement while determining what other assistance the family needs.
    — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • That included the East-West Pipeline, the main conduit Saudi Arabia has used to circumvent Iranian and American closures of the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of conduit
Noun
  • As pacesetter Powershift fell behind down the stretch, Commandment and Golden Tempo burst ahead, running neck-and-neck before Golden Tempo pulled away and crossed the finish line by more than a length.
    — Emily Ohman, New York Times, 6 June 2026
  • Though a genre-fluid affair, the Blue Note fest also features some of the most adventurous pacesetters in modern jazz, among them the flautist Shabaka, the London septet Kokoroko, the trumpeter Chief Adjuah, and the harpist Brandee Younger.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
Definition of pacesetter
Noun
  • Rooms in the back of the second and third floors had mahogany window frames that peered into the main space, allowing a foreman to supervise workers.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The Nepal Electricity Authority named the two men who were rescued alive as 30-year-old Sanjay Sah, a mechanical foreman from Saptari district in eastern Nepal, and Kabir Maharjan, 45, a mechanical supervisor from Kathmandu.
    — Bhadra Sharma, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of foreman
Noun
  • NuCube previously partnered with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories to examine how heat pipes endure stress at temperatures surpassing 900°C (1,652°F).
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The bit caught a pipe strap and wrenched him off a ladder, tearing off his thumb and mangling his hand.
    — Joe Rubin, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of pipe
Noun
  • The production is one reason at least one team captain thinks this is the best TCU defense in years.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026
  • That night, it would be signed by the oceanographer, former Navy captain, and retired astronaut Kathryn Sullivan—the first person to both walk in outer space and visit the deepest point of the ocean, in the Mariana Trench.
    — Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of captain
Noun
  • If a message appears to come from the boss but something feels off, Cranor said, workers should verify it through another channel before responding.
    — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Izumi, a viewer of his channel based in Japan, tells him the jeans would fetch a fortune in Tokyo’s denim market.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of channel

Browse Nearby Words

leaden
leader
leaders
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Cite this Entry

“Leader.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leader. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

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