as in settler
a person who settles in a new region
the hardships that the pioneers endured while taming the wilderness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in first
coming before all others in time or order
the nation's pioneer institution for the education of African-Americans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pioneer
Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
Warren McVea, a former NFL running back who won a Super Bowl and a pioneer in Texas football, has died, his family said Sunday.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
Panahi was learning how the system worked while pursuing his own creative projects at the same time, assisting on the sets of filmmakers including Abbas Kiarostami, a leading figure in Iran’s New Wave movement who pioneered meta-filmmaking techniques and became a mentor to Panahi.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Noun
The Swiss start-up FinalSpark is one of the pioneers in this field.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2025
Warren McVea, a former NFL running back who won a Super Bowl and a pioneer in Texas football, has died, his family said Sunday.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
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
Crafted in Grasse, France, the line ranges from single- and double-wick designs (Baobab helped pioneer the multi-wick format) to showstopping seven-wick, 13-inch statement candles.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 2025
Panahi was learning how the system worked while pursuing his own creative projects at the same time, assisting on the sets of filmmakers including Abbas Kiarostami, a leading figure in Iran’s New Wave movement who pioneered meta-filmmaking techniques and became a mentor to Panahi.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pioneer
Noun
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Their inhabitants have been forced off their land by a combination of settlers and the Army, which are often indistinguishable from each other.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
16 Oct. 2025
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Big Bone Lick's annual Salt Festival See demonstrations of early settler ways of life, salt making, archery, spear and tomahawk throwing.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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After drawing 1-1 with Manchester United at the beginning of the month, dropping points for the first time in the Women’s Super League (WSL) this season, Chelsea needed a penalty to equalise and finish with the same result away against FC Twente of the Vrouwen Eredivisie.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Friday’s press conference before Game 1 of the finals marked Engelbert’s first public comments since her stewardship came under fire from some of the league’s biggest stars earlier this week.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Politically, the affluence manifested in Long Island establishing itself as a bastion of the Republican Party, showing strong support for Hoover in his doomed Presidential campaign against Roosevelt.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
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Mediators, including Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, are continuing their efforts to facilitate dialogue and to broker progress on key measures such as reopening border crossings, delivering aid, and establishing future governance structures for Gaza.—
James Bickerton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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While the white French colonists perpetrated acts of extreme brutality and violence, when Haitian revolutionaries fought back, they were criticized for not following the standard rules of warfare.—
Julia Gaffield,
The Conversation,
15 Oct. 2025
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The Beaver Moon takes its name from early Native American tribes as well as American colonists, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, when beavers begin sheltering in their lodges after gathering enough food to last the winter.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Anyone who loses will receive five bonus bets that add up to the initial stake.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
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Calderhead focuses on the British tactic, enacted two days after the initial attack, of moving their fleet into Flushing Bay to anchor for the night.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
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White Flame was founded over a decade ago to explore for oil and gas in Greenland.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
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Two decades after co-founding the Dodos with drummer Logan Kroeber, singer and guitarist Meric Long will release his first solo album under his own name.—
Matthew Strauss,
Pitchfork,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The 2019 Nationals aren’t even the foremost road warriors of the last few years.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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Olivier Wenden is Vice Chairman & CEO, Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, one of the world’s foremost philanthropic institutions dedicated to environmental conservation.—
Olivier Wenden,
Fortune,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Wells Fargo initiates Exxon Mobil at overweight Wells sees several positive catalysts for the country’s largest fossil fuel company.—
Michael Bloom,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
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Ben's Original is initiating a voluntary recall in the United States for some of its heat-and-eat rice products, because some of the packages may be contaminated with small stones, which could cause injury.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pioneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pioneer. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
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