pioneer 1 of 3

noun

ˌpī-ə-ˈnir How to pronounce pioneer (audio)
Definition of pioneernext
as in settler
a person who settles in a new region the hardships that the pioneers endured while taming the wilderness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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pioneer

2 of 3

adjective

as in first
coming before all others in time or order the nation's pioneer institution for the education of African-Americans

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pioneer

3 of 3

verb

as in to establish
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of he single-handedly pioneered the university's institute for medical research

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 pioneer
Noun
As pioneers of the visual kei movement, which combined punk and glam aesthetics with heavy metal, X Japan became one of the most popular bands in Japan. — Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026 Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev was a pioneer in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence at the time, and some of the signals fascinated him. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Adjective
In tandem with the modernist movement of the 20th century was the Danish concept of functionalism; a design philosophy of form follows function, which was introduced by pioneer Danish architects like Poul Henningsen and Vilhelm Lauritzen. — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
View gallery - 4 images Alpine offered a first look at its new high-performance electric sports car at the 2026 Goodwood Festival of Speed last weekend – all thanks to a pioneering new process for developing a new car platform. — New Atlas, 15 July 2026 Having pioneered the Gulf’s banking sector more than a century ago with the opening of Standard Chartered (then the Eastern Bank) in 1920, the kingdom remains one of the GCC’s most progressive financial regulators. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pioneer
  1. settler
  2. first
  3. establish
  4. colonist
  5. initial
  6. found
  7. foremost
  8. initiate
Noun
  • The reboot’s creative team worked with Osage scholar and consultant Robert Warrior to draw inspiration for the characters of William Mitchell and his wife, White Sun, from 19 Osage families who lived in Kansas at the time settlers arrived.
    — Michael Gioia, Architectural Digest, 16 July 2026
  • Mordechai Galili, another soldier who, like Degieli, was a settler from a nearby kibbutz named Nirim, described the process for the settlement’s bulletin.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Definition of settler
Adjective
  • Monday’s victory for the Braves was just their second in the last 11 games against the Padres and the first of this season after being swept in San Diego in June.
    — Chad Bishop, AJC.com, 21 July 2026
  • Gen might have gotten away scot-free from the sheets incident in terms of optics — no one questions her involvement, even though her job description includes housekeeping — but karma hounds her during the first day of the charter.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 21 July 2026
Definition of first
Verb
  • Boras generally prefers his clients to establish their values on the open market.
    — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • And last year’s constitutional reforms had already established a one-party system in a country where opposition leaders no longer exist, because they have been exiled.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
Definition of establish
Noun
  • Religious symbols are best displayed in non-governmental spaces given that America was formed by colonists who fled England to seek freedom of religion.
    — Tara Sonenshine, Baltimore Sun, 11 July 2026
  • European colonists in Australia encountered a suite of venomous snakes just as fearsome as those of the Libyan desert.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
Definition of colonist
Adjective
  • The initial proof of principle by the Normal team served as an inspiration for Whitelam, who recently reported a simulation of a nonequilibrium thermodynamic computing circuit.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 15 July 2026
  • The initial broadcast sparked protests and complaints from viewers, advertisers, and conservative activists, leading some CBS affiliates to exclude the episode from their lineup of reruns the following summer.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 2026
Definition of initial
Verb
  • The festival, which spans the beach between Santa Monica Pier and Bay Street, takes its name from the street where Allen Sides founded the Ocean Way Recording studios.
    — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 16 July 2026
  • Marchanta, which was founded by Raylin Diaz, creative director, in the Dominican Republic creates collectible sculptural objects and fragrances inspired by the cultural richness of the Caribbean.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 16 July 2026
Definition of found
Adjective
  • The executions have drawn attention to the ageing death-row population in the US, as well as Florida’s status as the foremost death penalty state.
    — Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 16 July 2026
  • Among the most significant was the signing of a Letter of Intent between the Bharat Tex Trade Federation (BTTF) and Première Vision Paris, one of the world’s foremost textile and fashion sourcing platforms.
    — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 15 July 2026
Definition of foremost
Verb
  • Even after watching replays, the ref stuck with his original call that Mbappe had initiated the contact, which was palpable nonsense.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • Barclays initiates Forte Biosciences as overweight Barclays says shares of the biotech company are compelling.
    — Michael Bloom, CNBC, 21 July 2026
Definition of initiate

Browse Nearby Words

pinwheels
pioneer
pioneered
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Cite this Entry

“Pioneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pioneer. Accessed 23 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pioneer

Nglish: Translation of pioneer for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pioneer

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