pioneered

verb

past tense of pioneer
as in founded
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

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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 pioneered Beginning in the late 1990s, Berkeley Lab researchers at the CXRO pioneered techniques to replace visible light with higher energy extreme ultraviolet light for lithography. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026 The Housing First idea was pioneered by a New York nonprofit in the 1990s and has been at the heart of federal homelessness policy since 2013. — Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 There is some debate over which restaurant pioneered the drive-thru concept. — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026 Coover’s main claim to fame in the cattle business is having pioneered cloning. — Kyle Paoletta, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 The carrier later pioneered nonstop service between New York and Los Angeles in the 1950s, with a Douglas DC-7. — Chris Dong, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026 Buy Maple Leaf gold coins South African Krugerrand The Krugerrand pioneered modern gold bullion investing when South Africa introduced it in 1967, long before most other mints followed. — Sharon Wu, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2026 Robert Eagle, a co-author of the study and a geobiologist at University of California, Los Angeles, pioneered this approach to measuring prehistoric body temperatures. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2026 Today, Latin and common names of organisms, including plants and birds, are often changed based on DNA studies, a technique pioneered circa 1975. — Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pioneered
  1. founded
  2. established
  3. introduced
  4. initiated
  5. launched
  6. created
  7. instituted
Verb
  • The group is a nonpartisan nonprofit founded by a former Republican FEC chairman.
    — Luke Fountain, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Ho, who co-founded 852 Films, picked up the Fantastic Icon Award at BIFAN’s 30th edition, honoring her body of work in genre film.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of founded
Verb
  • Other networks have been established for working fathers, LGBTQ+ employees, and early-career staff, which were established to give younger employees a greater say in their career development and opportunities to communicate with leadership.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Deadline has established that several top producers have declined to throw their hat into the ring, with many citing concerns about the lack of rights and the production contract sucking creative energy away from other projects.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of established
Verb
  • Sánchez's government suffered a bruising legislative defeat last week when right-wing opposition parties voted down emergency decrees introduced by his government to address evictions and real estate speculation.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Having introduced the concept of afternoon tea to Madrid in a previous incarnation, the Ritz once again offers scones with clotted cream in the leafy Palm Court.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of introduced
Verb
  • Text messages indicate Moore’s representative had initiated the process of retrieving his belongings in the hours after his arrest, and the school was quick to oblige.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In those cases, the transition to single-member districts was initiated by legal challenges alleging voter discrimination, with plaintiffs saying the racial makeup of the boards didn’t reflect the racial makeup of district students.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of initiated
Verb
  • Earlier this year, the Dutch adaptation launched on RTL4 to more than 1 million viewers and a Polish version delivered TVN’s biggest primetime launch in five years, according to TF1.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The owner of The Armoury, a four-unit men’s retailer with locations in New York and Hong Kong, has acquired his largest brand, named a new creative director and launched a second career as a pseudo real estate developer.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of launched
Verb
  • Once that was created, the company answered the demand of its customers for a physical location.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The entry is paired with a suite of portraits of a number of Black men and women wearing MooreWraps, versatile multi-wear garments created by Moore’s sister with proceeds donated to victims of domestic violence and incarceration.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of created
Verb
  • The county’s healthcare system, meanwhile, instituted its fourth year of budget trims in anticipation of major federal cuts to Medicaid.
    — A.D. Quig, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Park and Recreation recently instituted a 20 mph speed limit along the county’s greenway trails and already has some rules on the books, such as requiring helmets for riders aged 16 or younger.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of instituted

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pioneered
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Cite this Entry

“Pioneered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pioneered. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

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