PILOTS Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

pilots 1 of 2

noun

plural of pilot

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

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pilots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pilot

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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in navigates

to operate or control the course of managed to pilot the plane to safety despite the failure of the left engine

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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 pilots

Noun

With drones increasingly used to kill on the battlefield, their pilots have become key targets for both sides — a reality that’s absent from the recruitment material. —

Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 12 May 2026 After the victim was struck, pilots aborted the plane's takeoff and smoke began filling the cabin. —

Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 12 May 2026 Winners were chosen from more than 50 independent pilots in the Comedy, Drama, and Unscripted competitions, which will receive $25K in-kind post production support from Company 3. —

Ben Travers, IndieWire, 12 May 2026 The pilots aborted takeoff and smoke was reported in the cabin, Frontier Airlines said at the time. —

Mead Gruver, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 If conditions don't look right, Wangchuk says pilots are encouraged to divert, delay, or cancel. —

Chris Dong, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2026 The NBCUniversal broadcast network, which is presenting its 2026-27 programming lineup and schedule to advertisers Monday morning, has made pickup decisions on all of its current series and pilots except one, sophomore crime drama The Hunting Party starring Melissa Roxburgh. —

Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 11 May 2026 Three pilots on the plane that was headed for Hawaii loaded with packages and fuel were killed along with 12 more people on the ground near Louisville’s Muhammad Ali International Airport. —

ABC News, 11 May 2026 The firm developed a flight simulator for pilots to use in training and had n office adjacent to Spirit’s headquarters while focused on training pilots at low-cost airlines. —

Miami Herald, 11 May 2026

Verb

There's also an optional co-op mode, which allows two players to split the controls of the Arwing starfighter and other vehicles; one person pilots them while the other shoots at enemies. —

Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 8 May 2026 Benji gives in to whatever Jake wants, desperate not to rock the boat, while Jake frequently pilots their relationship, taking control without giving much thought to Benji and his desires. —

David Opie, IndieWire, 4 May 2026 The drones are always recording and equipped with high-quality zoom and thermal cameras as a Cincinnati police officer remotely pilots the drone from the department's command center. —

David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2025 When Claire’s adult daughter Channing pilots the idea of going on a ski trip next year and starting her own holiday traditions, Claire completely ices her out and won’t consider it. —

Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Dec. 2025 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilots

Noun

These blackouts occur when intense X-ray and ultraviolet radiation from solar flares ionize Earth's upper atmosphere, interfering with high-frequency radio signals used by aviators, mariners and amateur radio operators.

— Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 11 May 2026
Previously, aviators could use the $165-per-month Starlink Roam plan on their aircraft, but as its name suggests, Aviation 300MPH capped the in-motion internet access at 300mph, so Roam was no longer an option on planes.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2026