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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 Its supreme leader appointed six new figures to key positions, all of whom opposed the June memorandum of understanding with the US. — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026 Shaw University played an important role in the Civil Rights era, educating many of the leaders who shaped the movement. — Yonat Shimron, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 Coon plays Rita, a woman in midlife haunted by the weight of her past, who encounters magnetic young spiritual leader Ricki (James) and leaves her family to follow her to an all-female commune. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026 On top of that, research organizations and leaders were strongly against any kind of external regulation, Stark said, and resisted the establishment of IRBs in the first place. — Angus Chen, STAT, 11 Aug. 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
  • Summary Haley and Hanna Cavinder, pioneers of NIL, have successfully transitioned from influencers to founders, launching their own wellness brand, Go Two, and co-founding a tequila brand, Azucar.
    — Kristi Dosh, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The Alila Ventana Big Sur resort is 51 years old, while the Post Ranch Inn sits on the former homestead of the Post pioneer family who settled in the region in the 1860s.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of pioneer
Noun
  • Palace are going to set up in the same 3-4-2-1 system under new boss Pierre Sage that predecessor Oliver Glasner used, albeit the style of play will be different, with quicker passing and wide combinations.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • An omen of the future — The firing is an event worth paying attention to, says Andon Labs CEO Lukas Petersson, because if AI keeps getting better at its current rate, more of us might be managed by AI bosses in the near future.
    — Billy Perrigo, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of boss
Noun
  • City leaders held a meeting Wednesday to discuss the transition, including plans to modernize the conduit system, improve safety and establish a new city-run operation.
    — Bryant Reed, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Relationships are conduits for timely information sharing, mutual aid and collective action.
    — Fiona Doherty, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 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
  • Fischer had tried to recruit others in her crusade against the local government, including foreman Ben Kessler.
    — Zander Sherman, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The oldest structure is the foreman’s house, a three-bedroom cottage dating to the turn of the 20th century.
    — Tori Latham, Robb Report, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of foreman
Noun
  • Then, an eighth pipe was slotted into the small organ, bringing with it a new sound that reverberated throughout the church.
    — Stefanie Dazio, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The new whisky expands its maturation from three to five distinct cask types, including Fino sherry and Port pipes, subtly reshaping Glenfiddich's signature fruit-forward profile by adding dryness and complexity.
    — Emily Price, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of pipe
Noun
  • The captain of an allegedly unlicensed boat that capsized in New York Harbor near Liberty Island over the weekend, killing a young woman and her baby, has been charged in their deaths.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Tougher tests lie ahead for Vuskovic than a comfortable 45-minute introduction in the first half against Roma before making way for 34-year-old captain Lewis Dunk.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of captain
Noun
  • Yahoo launched its streaming sports channel last year and recently partnered with the Nonfiction Hotlist, which is intended to showcase independent documentaries, TV series and podcasts.
    — Jesse Wright, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • That result exceeds the roughly 199-mile (320-kilometer) threshold associated with direct transmission through a lossy fiber channel.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of channel

Browse Nearby Words

leaden
leader
leaders
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on leader

Nglish: Translation of leader for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All