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
Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Building upon these early pilots, Cisco’s plans for AI promise to transform how employees experience the workplace.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately for Figure, there aren’t yet simulations that mimic the real world with enough fidelity to be useful for training more complex tasks—hence the ongoing need for human pilots.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Through the week, harbor pilots that help captains guide cargo ships into the port have operated strictly under office hours.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
Established in 1918 as East Field, Brown Field was initially used to train military pilots during World War I and World War II.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
One controller told pilots waiting that, while controllers are used to staffing problems, this was different.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Arteta is of the view that fighter pilots are some of the world’s most accomplished communicators.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The flight from Charlotte had two pilots, two flight attendants, and 57 passengers on board, Delta said.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 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
Cal Fire helicopter pilots will be training over three nights, starting Thursday, in the Sacramento area using night-vision goggles to enhance their ability to fight wildfires in the dark.
—Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Building upon these early pilots, Cisco’s plans for AI promise to transform how employees experience the workplace.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
Unfortunately for Figure, there aren’t yet simulations that mimic the real world with enough fidelity to be useful for training more complex tasks—hence the ongoing need for human pilots.
—Billy Perrigo, Time, 9 Oct. 2025
Through the week, harbor pilots that help captains guide cargo ships into the port have operated strictly under office hours.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 9 Oct. 2025
Established in 1918 as East Field, Brown Field was initially used to train military pilots during World War I and World War II.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Oct. 2025
One controller told pilots waiting that, while controllers are used to staffing problems, this was different.
—Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 8 Oct. 2025
Arteta is of the view that fighter pilots are some of the world’s most accomplished communicators.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
The flight from Charlotte had two pilots, two flight attendants, and 57 passengers on board, Delta said.
—Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 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
-
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
-
Simba walks from the parking deck to the entrance of Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and his owner guides him through security, passing out his trading cards to agents and travelers alike.—
Natalie Davies,
Freep.com,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Zaremba, of Hollywood, guides anglers for peacocks from Florida City to Boynton Beach.—
Steve Waters,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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From there, the hurricane center’s track steers the storm far away from land, even Bermuda to the north.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
9 Oct. 2025
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McKissick recommends sticking within the 19 to 24 inch frame range and steers her clients toward the sleek Samsung Frame when possible.—
Sarah Lyon,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hitting coaches Jeremy Barnes and Eric Chavez, pitching coach Jeremy Hefner, bench coach John Gibbons, third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh and catching instructor Glenn Sherlock are all parting ways with the team.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Oct. 2025
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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
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
-
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
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The invoice for the drones shows a discount of $314,266.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Oct. 2025
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From tackling housing crises on Earth to building shelters on the moon, Charlotte shows how robotics and 3D printing can work together to solve real problems.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pilots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilots. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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