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
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
The Thorns are trailblazers in American and global women’s soccer.
—Theo Lloyd-Hughes, New York Times, 4 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
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
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
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
The Thorns are trailblazers in American and global women’s soccer.
—Theo Lloyd-Hughes, New York Times, 4 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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trailblazers
Noun
-
The two other 2026 inductees are the Stanley Brothers, bluegrass pioneers who will be honored in the Veteran Era Artist category, and Paul Overstreet, who will be inducted in the Songwriter category.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Country music hitmaker Tim McGraw, bluegrass pioneers The Stanley Brothers and songwriter Paul Overstreet have been named as the inductees for the Country Music Hall of Fame‘s Class of 2026.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
20 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
-
For one, Indigenous people resisted American colonists’ expansion into their ancestral homelands, raiding their farms and settlements in the Ohio Valley.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Our travelers are first and foremost explorers!—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
-
While most attribute its origin to a 1621 feast between Pilgrims and indigenous peoples in present-day Massachusetts, Spanish explorers held a similar celebration in 1541 in present-day Texas.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Earlier this month, three Palestinians were killed in a violent clash with settlers near Khirbet Abu Falah, east of Ramallah, and in a rare rebuke, the Israeli military strongly condemned the settler violence.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Mohamad Torokman / Reuters The Palestinian Health Ministry said one Palestinian was also killed in an attack by Israeli settlers overnight.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trailblazers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trailblazers. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
