as in pioneering
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Recent Examples of pathbreaking
Into the tumult come two new books that focus on some of the most pathbreaking journalists of the 1930s and ’40s.
—
Casey Schwartz, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
One of them is a 33-year-old woman from Wisconsin who cooked under the pathbreaking modernist Ferran Adrià, the purist sushi master Jiro Ono and the great codifier and systematizer of French haute cuisine, Auguste Escoffier.
—Pete Wells, New York Times, 2 June 2025
SpaceX has proven to be a pathbreaking effort to build commercial rocket ships.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
War was Roosevelt’s excuse to justify a pathbreaking third term.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 29 Nov. 2024
So that was a pathbreaking achievement and became the pride of the Telugu people.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Aug. 2023
Espy mentioned those remarks in his announcement video, emphasizing his pathbreaking role as Mississippi's first black congressman since Reconstruction.
—NBC News, 13 Nov. 2019
In her 2008 run, Clinton had been reluctant to emphasize her pathbreaking role.
—Jeet Heer, New Republic, 14 Sep. 2017
Casey Schwartz, The Atlantic, 26 Feb. 2026
One of them is a 33-year-old woman from Wisconsin who cooked under the pathbreaking modernist Ferran Adrià, the purist sushi master Jiro Ono and the great codifier and systematizer of French haute cuisine, Auguste Escoffier.
—Pete Wells, New York Times, 2 June 2025
SpaceX has proven to be a pathbreaking effort to build commercial rocket ships.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Feb. 2025
War was Roosevelt’s excuse to justify a pathbreaking third term.
—Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 29 Nov. 2024
So that was a pathbreaking achievement and became the pride of the Telugu people.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 29 Aug. 2023
Espy mentioned those remarks in his announcement video, emphasizing his pathbreaking role as Mississippi's first black congressman since Reconstruction.
—NBC News, 13 Nov. 2019
In her 2008 run, Clinton had been reluctant to emphasize her pathbreaking role.
—Jeet Heer, New Republic, 14 Sep. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pathbreaking
Adjective
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Ditto at the rain-free Humphreys debuts of gospel-music legends The Blind Boys of Alabama, Brazilian music superstar Milton Nasciemento, solo guitarist Stanley Jordan, blues vocal dynamo Shemekia Copland, Portuguese fado singing star Mariza and, in 2017, the pioneering art-rock band King Crimson.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
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Getting Inspiration From Her Upbringing and Daughters With Kamala and Maya’s Big Idea, Harris aimed to pay tribute to her grandmother, Shyamala Gopalan, who was a pioneering scientist, researcher in the field of breast cancer, and mom to former Vice President Kamala Harris.—
Maressa Brown,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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There's no doubt there's more trailblazing to be done.—
Brittany Talarico,
People.com,
24 Jan. 2025
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The iconic actress — renowned for playing Sandra Clark on the '80s sitcom 227 — not only graced our screens for decades with unparalleled talent but also stands tall as the trailblazing first Black actress to clinch an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1987.—
Clay Cane,
Peoplemag,
3 Feb. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Pathbreaking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pathbreaking. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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