as in aviators
one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft
the airline is seeking experienced pilots to fly the new airplane
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in guides
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed
piloted the figure skater through the national championships
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in steers
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front
the lead rider piloted the rest of the team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pilots
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Jason Sanchez, one of the pilots, told CNN.
—Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
The flight from Charlotte had two pilots, two flight attendants, and 57 passengers on board, Delta said.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
During the Berlin Airlift, American pilots parachuted 23 tons of candy to the Germans below.
—Diana Hubbell, Popular Science, 1 Oct. 2025
The airline is in talks with its pilots' union and is seeking about $100 million in cuts from that group.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Lane says that keeping the door open also helps pilots speak to each other and staff members more quickly before the flight deck is sealed for the ride.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2025
The newest models of the Vampire drone, which is produced by a Ukrainian company called Skyfall, allows pilots to switch on AI mode midflight, effectively handing over the controls to an algorithm.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
This interstate highway in the sky will connect Charlotte and Atlanta, providing innovators, pilots, and regulators with real-world experience in AAM operations.
—Peter Welch, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Watch On For each mission simulation, one astronaut pilots the aircraft while another charts the landing area, marking key landmarks, identifying potential hazards and helping to track the flight path.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
This came out close to the MIT study that said 95% of generative AI pilots were failing and the somewhat sudden realization that AI could be building toward a bubble.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Jason Sanchez, one of the pilots, told CNN.
—Frederik Pleitgen, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
The flight from Charlotte had two pilots, two flight attendants, and 57 passengers on board, Delta said.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2025
During the Berlin Airlift, American pilots parachuted 23 tons of candy to the Germans below.
—Diana Hubbell, Popular Science, 1 Oct. 2025
The airline is in talks with its pilots' union and is seeking about $100 million in cuts from that group.
—Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Lane says that keeping the door open also helps pilots speak to each other and staff members more quickly before the flight deck is sealed for the ride.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 25 Sep. 2025
The newest models of the Vampire drone, which is produced by a Ukrainian company called Skyfall, allows pilots to switch on AI mode midflight, effectively handing over the controls to an algorithm.
—Simon Shuster, Time, 24 Sep. 2025
This interstate highway in the sky will connect Charlotte and Atlanta, providing innovators, pilots, and regulators with real-world experience in AAM operations.
—Peter Welch, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
Maito then pilots one of these robots, called Gaine, and teams up with other mecha to take down the real evil Nouvelle Tokyo City.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Watch On For each mission simulation, one astronaut pilots the aircraft while another charts the landing area, marking key landmarks, identifying potential hazards and helping to track the flight path.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilots
Noun
-
Running in parallel to the storylines of Piccard and Jones is the global race of the time where many prominent figures, from accomplished aviators to billionaire Richard Branson, were trying to become the first around-the-globe balloonists.—
Tomris Laffly,
Variety,
28 Sep. 2025
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In the original novel, also called Goldfinger, Galore is the leader of an all-female team of aviators known as Pussy Galore’s Flying Circus.—
Mathew Rodriguez,
Them.,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
That personal instinct is what guides me far more than any formula.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
3 Oct. 2025
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The Antideficiency Act, first passed in 1870, forbids the federal government from spending money not appropriated by Congress, and guides much of what the federal government can and can’t do during a shutdown.—
Brian Bennett,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And McConaughey, as a nervy reluctant hero, steers the searing, intense narrative about normal people living through the most hellish of circumstances.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
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How exactly this occurs will shape the way the atmosphere steers the developing storm.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
After her audition, coaches Reba McEntire, Michael Bublé, Niall Horan and Snoop Dogg began their hopeful pleas to get Clark, 20, on their respective teams.—
Daniela Avila,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
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Spencer is a veteran who is in the Navy Reserves and also coaches youth baseball teams, according to the GiveSendGo post.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The web page now routes users to the university’s Center for Connection Culture.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Sep. 2025
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LanzaTech’s process routes industrial gases into special bioreactors containing anaerobic bacteria which consume carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen and produce ethanol, using a fermentation process similar to that of yeast.—
Erik Kobayashi-Solomon,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Two no-trump shows some interest in game and asks about partner's second suit as well as his strength.—
Deb Harvell,
Arkansas Online,
28 Sep. 2025
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Video from the scene shows dark billowing smoke rising into the air and multiple firetrucks working to extinguish the fire.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pilots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilots. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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