1
as in pioneers
a person or group that originates new concepts, styles, and techniques
The Beatles are recognized as some of the greatest trailblazers of rock music.
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in colonists
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."
Related Words
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 trailblazers
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
Some of them are trailblazers, some fought in war; others fought in a courtroom, or for equality in sports and business.
—CBS News, 20 Feb. 2026
The summit will recognize trailblazers in fashion, beauty and philanthropy.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026
Wonder women in American history Who were most transformative female organizers, creators, activists, innovators, revolutionaries and trailblazers in American history?
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
While Jolie is not one of the trend’s trailblazers, the dress did not feel outside of her wheelhouse.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
Six Idaho leaders will be honored at a first-of-its-kind event celebrating athletes, coaches and trailblazers who have paved the way for the next generation of girls and women in Idaho sports.
—Idaho Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
Keep reading to find out the inspired true story of Hidden Figures, from its historically accurate events to its inspiring real-life trailblazers.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Staley was one of the trailblazers of the WNBA, a six-time All-Star who became one of the top floor generals of her era.
—The Athletic Peak Staff, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Brittany Pettersen, Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Some of them are trailblazers, some fought in war; others fought in a courtroom, or for equality in sports and business.
—CBS News, 20 Feb. 2026
The summit will recognize trailblazers in fashion, beauty and philanthropy.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 17 Feb. 2026
Wonder women in American history Who were most transformative female organizers, creators, activists, innovators, revolutionaries and trailblazers in American history?
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
While Jolie is not one of the trend’s trailblazers, the dress did not feel outside of her wheelhouse.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
Six Idaho leaders will be honored at a first-of-its-kind event celebrating athletes, coaches and trailblazers who have paved the way for the next generation of girls and women in Idaho sports.
—Idaho Statesman, 27 Jan. 2026
Keep reading to find out the inspired true story of Hidden Figures, from its historically accurate events to its inspiring real-life trailblazers.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 19 Jan. 2026
Dawn Staley, South Carolina women’s basketball coach Staley was one of the trailblazers of the WNBA, a six-time All-Star who became one of the top floor generals of her era.
—The Athletic Peak Staff, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trailblazers
Noun
-
The two pioneers are simply on the wrong side of Miami Beach, the side that few outsiders associate with the neon glitz and glamour of Hotel Row.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Brain rot is one reason some AI pioneers now question whether large language models will achieve human-level intelligence.—
R. Alexander Bentley,
The Conversation,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This practice outraged the American colonists, who believed that general warrants enabled tyranny by empowering officers to enter homes and businesses at will.—
Amanda Cats-Baril,
Twin Cities,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The Hopis and Zunis were part of the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, where Spanish colonists and priests were driven out of the pueblos of New Mexico and northeastern Arizona.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Instead of hauling every liter of life support from Earth, future explorers might be able to simply harvest the lunar landscape.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The windy, cliff-hugging 68-mile stretch introduces road explorers to one of the most diverse ecosystems accessible by auto.—
Lynn O'Rourke Hayes,
Boston Herald,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Saw Wee Kee, Waa Kee Sha and their surrounding areas have long been more than just recreation sites, and have rich histories extending back well before the earliest American settlers first arrived, the release said.—
Aurora Beacon-News,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Early Spanish settlers called this fish grunion, which means grunter.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trailblazers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trailblazers. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
