as in travelers
a person who travels to foreign lands
A wandering pilgrim, he made his way across Europe before eventually settling in Madrid.
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Recent Examples of pilgrims
The Vatican on Monday claimed 33,475,369 pilgrims had participated in the Jubilee, though organizer Archbishop Rino Fisichella acknowledged the number was only a rough estimate and could include double counting.
—
Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Researchers say the mikveh likely served both local residents and the many pilgrims who visited the Temple in the years leading up to the Roman siege.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
First walked by pilgrims following in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi, like the Camino de Santiago that threads the breadth of Spain, the Via Lauretana winds through Umbria’s quiet interior, linking Assisi to Loreto, located just across the border in Marche on the Adriatic coast.
—Laura May Todd, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
The pilgrims continue to insist, identifying themselves by name (Jospeh and Mary) and role, until the innkeepers finally open the doors and let them in.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
There’s a Nigerian community that came as religious pilgrims.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 6 Dec. 2025
Then there’s the New York of the commuters, and then there’s the New York of the settlers, the pilgrims, the people who come to New York looking for something.
—Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025
After a devastating first winter that wiped out nearly half the pilgrims, the Wampanoag people taught the survivors to cultivate corn, tap maple trees and fish local waters.
—Cardinal Blase Cupich, Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2025
Cast as Pocahontas, Wednesday uses the play to enact a terrific revenge on not just the Up with People-esque campers, but the pilgrims themselves.
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
Researchers say the mikveh likely served both local residents and the many pilgrims who visited the Temple in the years leading up to the Roman siege.
—Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026
First walked by pilgrims following in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi, like the Camino de Santiago that threads the breadth of Spain, the Via Lauretana winds through Umbria’s quiet interior, linking Assisi to Loreto, located just across the border in Marche on the Adriatic coast.
—Laura May Todd, Vogue, 21 Dec. 2025
The pilgrims continue to insist, identifying themselves by name (Jospeh and Mary) and role, until the innkeepers finally open the doors and let them in.
—Paula Soria, AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2025
There’s a Nigerian community that came as religious pilgrims.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 6 Dec. 2025
Then there’s the New York of the commuters, and then there’s the New York of the settlers, the pilgrims, the people who come to New York looking for something.
—Jelani Cobb, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025
After a devastating first winter that wiped out nearly half the pilgrims, the Wampanoag people taught the survivors to cultivate corn, tap maple trees and fish local waters.
—Cardinal Blase Cupich, Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2025
Cast as Pocahontas, Wednesday uses the play to enact a terrific revenge on not just the Up with People-esque campers, but the pilgrims themselves.
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilgrims
Noun
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The coastal city offers travelers a landscape of striking cliffs and secluded beaches.—
Rebecca Ann Hughes,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Many travelers dream of vacationing in a warm, sunny place, ideally by the beach.—
Opheli Garcia Lawler,
Travel + Leisure,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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While some calas are accessible by car, others can only be reached by a short hike—that’s where visitors will find the real magic and privacy.—
Liz Provencher,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
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After commissioner questions, Scharf defended the project, arguing that the White House needed a larger and more elegant space to hold visitors.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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While the summer high season swells with tourists, traveling in the shoulder seasons or even winter gives you a chance to tap into the mild climate, hike quieter paths, and score tables at the island’s top restaurants.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
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Blue Origin is primarily a rocket launch company, flying tourists and research to the edge of space on short trips.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pilgrims.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilgrims. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
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