Synonyms of pilots

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aviators
• airmen
• fliers
• birdmen
• copilots
• test pilots
• aces
• flyboys
• skippers
• captains
• bush pilots
• barnstormers

pilots

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of pilot

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

• guides
• coaches
• shows
• mentors
• shepherds
• tutors
• accompanies
• steers
• teaches
• engineers
• leads
• walks through
• counsels
• escorts
• trains
• informs
• schools
• convoys
• supervises
• drills
• briefs
• squires
• godfathers
• chaperones
• superintends
• sees
• directs
• attends
• sways
• oversees
• instructs
• indoctrinates
• fosters
• enlightens
• inculcates
• nurtures
• cultivates

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

• guides
• steers
• routes
• shows
• ushers
• leads
• accompanies
• marshals
• escorts
• conducts
• directs
• convoys
• precedes
• controls
• chaperones
• manages
• sees
• attends

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• follows
• trails
• dogs
• tails
• shadows
• hounds
• tailgates

3

as in navigates

to operate or control the course of

managed to pilot the plane to safety despite the failure of the left engine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• steers
• navigates
• hijacks
• helms
• conns
• commandeers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pilots

Noun

The fastest way to find out was to deploy as many agents and run as many pilots as possible to figure out what worked. — Sumeet Agrawal, Fortune, 20 July 2026

Thunder operates using Anduril’s Lattice mission autonomy software, which lets pilots assign objectives instead of remotely flying each aircraft. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026

And the pilots, Burnstein says, are landing at maybe 20% to 50% effectiveness. — John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Enterprises and public institutions are running pilots and proofs of concept at a dizzying pace. — Nigel Vaz, Time, 20 July 2026

During two of the intercepts, NORAD aircraft dispensed flares to draw the pilots’ attention, which may have been visible to the public. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026

The helmets worn by F-35 pilots, for instance, were so expensive to develop and build that they are estimated to have cost up to $700,000 each. — Phillips Payson O’Brien, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026

Ukrainian troops will march along the cobblestoned avenue, and Ukrainian co-pilots trained in France will fly two Mirage 2000B fighter jets alongside French air force pilots. — ABC News, 14 July 2026

As a result, pilots regularly ignore the 1,000-foot buffer, flying dangerously close to residential high-rises and local schools. — Janet Handal, New York Daily News, 13 July 2026

Verb

Manuel Varela, who also pilots Goodie, says the drone has switchable nozzles for whatever the cleaning job calls for. — Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

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