as in led
to serve as leader of
unofficially at least, Martin Luther King spearheaded the civil rights movement
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Recent Examples of spearheaded
The McMillan Plan of 1902, named after the senator who spearheaded it, laid out a comprehensive vision for the monumental core and park system of the nation's capitol.
—
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 June 2026
Macy's is about two years into a three-year turnaround that Spring has spearheaded since taking over as the retailer's chief executive.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Directed by fan and historian Questlove, this examination of the roots of the iconic funk-pop-R&B-jazz outfit spearheaded by the mercurial Maurice White is a study in how legends are built and how legacy prevails.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 June 2026
That 114-89 win at Madison Square Garden was spearheaded by Bridges’ 25 points, five made 3s and five steals.
—Esfandiar Baraheni, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Hussein spearheaded that push by scoring in five of his team’s 10 qualifying matches, including the game-winner against Bolivia in the intercontinental playoff final.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026
The literary affairs team, led by Clare Reeth, spearheaded efforts to land rights to the book.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 1 June 2026
Plans for a 250th celebration have been in the works for more than a decade, spearheaded by a bipartisan group called America 250.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
The initiative is spearheaded by Easterseals Disability Services and leaders from the disability community, with Film Independent serving as co-producer.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 28 May 2026
Rachel Treisman, NPR, 4 June 2026
Macy's is about two years into a three-year turnaround that Spring has spearheaded since taking over as the retailer's chief executive.
—Gabrielle Fonrouge, CNBC, 3 June 2026
Directed by fan and historian Questlove, this examination of the roots of the iconic funk-pop-R&B-jazz outfit spearheaded by the mercurial Maurice White is a study in how legends are built and how legacy prevails.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 3 June 2026
That 114-89 win at Madison Square Garden was spearheaded by Bridges’ 25 points, five made 3s and five steals.
—Esfandiar Baraheni, New York Times, 3 June 2026
Hussein spearheaded that push by scoring in five of his team’s 10 qualifying matches, including the game-winner against Bolivia in the intercontinental playoff final.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026
The literary affairs team, led by Clare Reeth, spearheaded efforts to land rights to the book.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 1 June 2026
Plans for a 250th celebration have been in the works for more than a decade, spearheaded by a bipartisan group called America 250.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
The initiative is spearheaded by Easterseals Disability Services and leaders from the disability community, with Film Independent serving as co-producer.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 28 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spearheaded
Verb
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Can the country’s football team, now led by the veteran manager Carlos Queiroz, bring some success along with all that?—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
10 June 2026
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That licking instinct may have led Jacobs’s elk to an area known as Flag Swamp, a one-acre wetland filled with blue flag irises and shrubby willow trees.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Verb
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These have long been considered to be bottom-shelf bourbons, and have not commanded the respect of some of Beam’s higher-caliber releases like Booker’s and Knob Creek, although bartenders and true whiskey fans have sung their praises for years.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
7 June 2026
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Prevost also commanded an infantry landing craft, and after 15 months overseas, attained the rank of lieutenant junior grade, according to a note on the Pentagon website published soon after Leo’s election.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spearheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spearheaded. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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