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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But travelers could still see flight cuts even if the government were to reopen next week, as the FAA’s order requires airlines to cancel flights days in advance.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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Air travelers came and went mostly without trouble at Denver International Airport on Friday, expressing gratitude for federal air traffic controllers working without pay, ready to adapt as flight reductions ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration kicked in.—
Bruce Finley,
Denver Post,
8 Nov. 2025
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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Eventually, all the singers and musicians joined forces on the ground outside, delighting onlookers and tourists alike.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
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Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim-majority country, was struck by a major militant attack in 2002 when al-Qaida staged bombings on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists.—
NPR,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pilgrims.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilgrims. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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