1
as in pioneer
a person or group that originates new concepts, styles, and techniques
The Beatles are recognized as some of the greatest trailblazers of rock music.
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2
as in colonist
a person who settles in a new region
The Mayflower brought with it a group of European trailblazers, determined to make a home of that land dubbed "New England."
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Recent Examples of trailblazer
Both the film’s protagonist and the filmmaking behind The French Connection were trailblazers in their own way.
—
Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
She was drawn by the burgeoning independent living community, led by trailblazers like Ed Roberts and Judy Heumann, who years prior had started pushing for more rights and resources.
—Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026
Shannon was a trailblazer in a man’s world.
—New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
There are so many trailblazers who have come before me, paving the way and cracking glass ceilings that once felt unbreakable.
—Brittany Pettersen, Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trailblazer
Paul Fitzgerald, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026
She was drawn by the burgeoning independent living community, led by trailblazers like Ed Roberts and Judy Heumann, who years prior had started pushing for more rights and resources.
—Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2026
Shannon was a trailblazer in a man’s world.
—New York Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
There are so many trailblazers who have come before me, paving the way and cracking glass ceilings that once felt unbreakable.
—Brittany Pettersen, Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trailblazer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trailblazer
Noun
-
Named after the legendary Big Sur female pioneer and rancher, Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park stands out even among the rest of the region’s attractions.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Surf pioneer and legend Dick Metz was the parade’s grand marshal.—
Erika I. Ritchie,
Oc Register,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Quebec Act, which protected Catholicism in neighboring Quebec, was seen by some colonists as a threat and is reflected in grievances in the Declaration of Independence.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
At that time, a warship required about 30 days to sail across the Atlantic Ocean and be in position to lob a few cannonballs at Boston or Philadelphia, possibly killing a few colonists.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Our travelers are first and foremost explorers!—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Tommy Thompson, a deep-sea explorer who spent more than a decade in federal custody for refusing to disclose the location of a cache of gold coins from a historic shipwreck, was released from prison.—
Sarah Rumpf-Whitten,
FOXNews.com,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trailblazer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trailblazer. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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