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
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2026
The streaming pioneer also announced that chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings is stepping down from the board after 29 years to pursue philanthropy and personal interests.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
In doing so, Black pioneered a new genre of narrative prehistorical nonfiction.
—Steve Brusatte, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Noun
The original property was opened in 1956 by Hawaii native and hotel industry pioneer Richard Wassman Kimi, whose family ran the hotel until it was sold in 2021.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Apr. 2026
The streaming pioneer also announced that chairman and co-founder Reed Hastings is stepping down from the board after 29 years to pursue philanthropy and personal interests.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 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
There are many things that Oreo does really well, like their pioneering namesake sandwich cookie.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
In doing so, Black pioneered a new genre of narrative prehistorical nonfiction.
—Steve Brusatte, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pioneer
Noun
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Much of this influence played a role in what would become the dialect of the South more generally as Scots Irish settlers and their descendants spread into the backcountry of the Upper and, a bit later, the Lowland South.—
Valerie Fridland,
Big Think,
21 Apr. 2026
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The removal came after the Indian Removal Act was passed and signed by President Andrew Jackson in 1830, as gold was discovered on Cherokee land and white settlers jockeyed for more acreage.—
Catherine Garcia,
TheWeek,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Jaiden Ilginis made quite an entrance last spring for Tinley Park, recording a hat trick in her first game as a freshman.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
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With Carlos Rodón, set to make his first rehab start Friday, and Gerrit Cole, scheduled for his second rehab start Thursday, working their way back from injuries, a logjam is coming to the Yankees’ rotation if everyone else stays healthy.—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Finally, in overcoming this vexing moment, the two would establish a painterly repartee that altered the trajectory of their own work and, by extension, modern art.—
Susan Tallman,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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Through this exhibition program, which shed a light on a generation of LA artists, The Box quickly established itself as a venturesome gallery and one of the most important in the city.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That exhibit looks at India through the eyes of colonists and corporations.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
19 Apr. 2026
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Paul Revere’s famous Midnight ride alerted the colonists that British troops (known as Regulars or Redcoats) were on the march to capture military supplies and leaders.—
William Lambers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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SpaceX, the dominant player in the burgeoning commercial space market, is running behind on its huge lunar lander and is more distracted than ever with an initial sale of shares to the public that could raise as much as $75 billion.—
Thomas Black,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
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Niall, for his part, only comes to hate himself more as gay acceptance goes mainstream, his initial distress over his sexuality compounded by humiliation at being unable to get past that distress.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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When one landowner stuck a fireworks stand on the property across the way and was letting consumers shoot them off on-site, Foreman fought it by founding the Church of Peace and Quiet.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
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Ksubi Ksubi is celebrating 420 by dropping a new capsule collection with STAYME70, the premium cannabis brand founded by former professional basketball player Carmelo Anthony.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Just last month it was reported that Cesar Chavez, the United Farm Workers organiser, raped women and girls, and Noam Chomsky—one of the left’s foremost intellectuals whose most popular book is called Manufacturing Consent—is right there on the Epstein private jet.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
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The number of people with severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous and deadly kind, is expected to increase to 800,000, the world’s foremost experts on food security, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, said in February.—
Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In August last year, The Athletic revealed the new redevelopment proposals after the first plans, initiated by Villa’s then chief executive Christian Purslow in April 2022, were shelved despite securing planning permission in the December of that year.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2026
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The bank initiated research coverage of the location-sharing, family safety app with a buy rating, and a 12-month price target of $60 price target, implying 32% upside from Tuesday’s close.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pioneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pioneer. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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