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.
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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."
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Recent Examples of trailblazers
The film focuses on three of these women—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—who were trailblazers for African American women in science and engineering.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026
Legends, trailblazers and crowd favorites Beyond Lovano, the 2026 lineup reads like a cross-generational jazz hall of fame.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Uzbekistan will make that two this summer, but the question is whether the 2006 trailblazers will be there as well.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2026
As some tech trailblazers in recent years have become more comfortable with developing weapons, Southern California has emerged as a hub for defense tech startups.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Outside’s 2026 Travel Awards feature 25 trailblazers, places to stay, and travel companies that are rewriting the rules of adventure.
—The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
The vinyl boom started in the late 2000s as a more niche trend among audiofiles and indieheads, with alt-rock figures like Jack White serving as early trailblazers evangelizing the format.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Entrepreneurs come in many types, and a significant percentage of trailblazers are women.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
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
Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026
Legends, trailblazers and crowd favorites Beyond Lovano, the 2026 lineup reads like a cross-generational jazz hall of fame.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Uzbekistan will make that two this summer, but the question is whether the 2006 trailblazers will be there as well.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2026
As some tech trailblazers in recent years have become more comfortable with developing weapons, Southern California has emerged as a hub for defense tech startups.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Outside’s 2026 Travel Awards feature 25 trailblazers, places to stay, and travel companies that are rewriting the rules of adventure.
—The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
The vinyl boom started in the late 2000s as a more niche trend among audiofiles and indieheads, with alt-rock figures like Jack White serving as early trailblazers evangelizing the format.
—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 16 Mar. 2026
Entrepreneurs come in many types, and a significant percentage of trailblazers are women.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trailblazers
Noun
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Schilling Elementary School in Newark is packed with young pioneers, willing to get their hands dirty.—
Molly McCrea,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Time and time again, pioneers of new platforms have also bought up content and influenced conversations about those platforms.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The aiyi have sent an emissary to Scythia, who will determine whether the colonists deserve to survive.—
Stephanie Burt,
New Yorker,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The early colonists were very much anti-idol worshippers and even modern Catholics, as Vice President Vance surely knows, have long been criticized by their Protestant counterparts for a love of statuary, reliquaries and other iconography that some have argued fall into idolatry.—
Culture Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Inside a section known as the Sulfur Cave, located 50 meters (164 feet) from the cave entrance in a permanently dark passage, the explorers encountered the sprawling structure.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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When confronted with the reality of the universe – an enormous starry void we humans are only beginning to understand – scientists and space explorers are often stunned and humbled by the extent of their own ignorance.—
Deana L. Weibel,
The Conversation,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Most families here are descendants of settlers from Ireland and England who came in pursuit of cod 300-plus years ago.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
-
These white settlers came in successive waves.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trailblazers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trailblazers. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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