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
For decades, late-night TV has introduced trailblazers trying to break, or reinvent, the staid routine of stand-up monologues and celebrity chitchat.
—
David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
As part of the pregame ceremonies, the team will unveil a permanent display to honor former players and LGBTQ trailblazers Billy Bean and Glenn Burke.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Hosted by the nonprofit Gold House, the annual Gold Gala honors the contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander trailblazers in entertainment, business, fashion and more.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 11 May 2026
This past weekend, however, that same style buzz was injected into one of Santa Fe’s slower months—bringing together a unique crowd of Indigenous trailblazers and innovators that instantly livened up the city.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 11 May 2026
Two trailblazers — Roger Hangarter from Indiana University and Masamitsu Wada from Tokyo Metropolitan University — were retired.
—Quanta Magazine, 4 May 2026
Williams, music group KATSEYE, Ro co-founder and CPO Saman Rahmanian and NFL Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan are among ten rising leaders are named Gold100 New Gold honorees, recognizing the next generation of cultural trailblazers.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 1 May 2026
The film examines the generation who never expected to become senior citizens in the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and decades of oppression, who now find themselves trailblazers again as the first openly LGBTQ seniors.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
Prior to this point, the Dead were intergalactic musical trailblazers with a grounding in the earthy rhythm and blues of this world of ours.
—Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
David Sims, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026
As part of the pregame ceremonies, the team will unveil a permanent display to honor former players and LGBTQ trailblazers Billy Bean and Glenn Burke.
—Dean Fioresi, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Hosted by the nonprofit Gold House, the annual Gold Gala honors the contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander trailblazers in entertainment, business, fashion and more.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 11 May 2026
This past weekend, however, that same style buzz was injected into one of Santa Fe’s slower months—bringing together a unique crowd of Indigenous trailblazers and innovators that instantly livened up the city.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 11 May 2026
Two trailblazers — Roger Hangarter from Indiana University and Masamitsu Wada from Tokyo Metropolitan University — were retired.
—Quanta Magazine, 4 May 2026
Williams, music group KATSEYE, Ro co-founder and CPO Saman Rahmanian and NFL Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan are among ten rising leaders are named Gold100 New Gold honorees, recognizing the next generation of cultural trailblazers.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 1 May 2026
The film examines the generation who never expected to become senior citizens in the face of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and decades of oppression, who now find themselves trailblazers again as the first openly LGBTQ seniors.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 29 Apr. 2026
Prior to this point, the Dead were intergalactic musical trailblazers with a grounding in the earthy rhythm and blues of this world of ours.
—Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trailblazers
Noun
-
Ben Johnson’s Bears are pioneers in the field of loopy comebacks.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
-
While Kendrick Lamar was conquering the hip-hop world, Rashad was honing an introspective style inspired by Southern hip-hop pioneers like Lil Wayne and OutKast.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
During the Pequot War, a conflict between Connecticut colonists and the Pequot tribe, Capt.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
In Ho Chi Minh City, bánh mì grew out of French colonization — the colonists brought the baguette, and Vietnamese bakers reworked it into something lighter and crispier.—
Lauren Schuster,
Kansas City Star,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Sitting inside a vehicle, explorers redefined heroism around mastery of machines and self.—
Danny Robb,
JSTOR Daily,
12 May 2026
-
This was a typical Tuesday and Thursday for the 4- and 5-year-old explorers who are part of the Zoo School’s Nature’s Navigators program.—
Lina Ruiz
May 4,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
From the beginning, the Palisades, with its Mediterranean climate and jagged coastline, lured the most adventurous of settlers, each generation reshaping it in its own image.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 May 2026
-
Archaeology in the occupied West Bank is frequently politicized as part of broader territorial disputes between Palestinians and Israeli settlers.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trailblazers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trailblazers. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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