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 2025 Glamour Women of the Year Awards celebrated the trailblazers, activists, and culture-shifters who defined the last 12 months.
—
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Since 1990, Glamour has honored the world’s most extraordinary women—trailblazers, rule breakers, visionaries, and champions who have defined each year.
—Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025
All eyes will be on hip hop trailblazers this weekend.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Whitney spends the film torn between exploring her family, friends, Asian bias, and trailblazers in the film industry, and creating a compelling, personable narrative to honor her family legacy.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Along with Michael Cusack, the former YouTube trailblazers have created a show that is not only downright hysterical but also serves as a bold example for an industry drowning in unprecedented trepidation.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Allen joins an elite group of women in the Barbie Tribute Collection, standing alongside other trailblazers like Lucille Ball, Laverne Cox, and Vera Wang.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 18 Oct. 2025
For the first time, six female executive trailblazers were also saluted.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Instead of being celebrated as trailblazers, these women are mocked by the press, underestimated by their colleagues, and belittled by society at large.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
Since 1990, Glamour has honored the world’s most extraordinary women—trailblazers, rule breakers, visionaries, and champions who have defined each year.
—Glamour, 27 Oct. 2025
All eyes will be on hip hop trailblazers this weekend.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Whitney spends the film torn between exploring her family, friends, Asian bias, and trailblazers in the film industry, and creating a compelling, personable narrative to honor her family legacy.
—Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2025
Along with Michael Cusack, the former YouTube trailblazers have created a show that is not only downright hysterical but also serves as a bold example for an industry drowning in unprecedented trepidation.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Allen joins an elite group of women in the Barbie Tribute Collection, standing alongside other trailblazers like Lucille Ball, Laverne Cox, and Vera Wang.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 18 Oct. 2025
For the first time, six female executive trailblazers were also saluted.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2025
Advertisement Instead of being celebrated as trailblazers, these women are mocked by the press, underestimated by their colleagues, and belittled by society at large.
—Isadora Wandermurem, Time, 3 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trailblazers
Noun
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Newcomers began to arrive almost immediately, with the growth driven by the forty-niners ‒ the gold-seeking pioneers who began flocking west in 1849.—
Andre Byik,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Soundgarden Soundgarden are widely considered one of the great pioneers of grunge.—
Emlyn Travis,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The Beaver Moon takes its name from early Native American tribes as well as American colonists, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, when beavers begin sheltering in their lodges after gathering enough food to last the winter.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
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The story, historically told from the white pilgrim's perspective, is that colonists shared a meal with the indigenous Wampanoag people to give thanks for a successful fall harvest.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
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This Halloween, step into stories where science meets terror, where contagions kill, landscapes devour explorers, and technology crushes the human soul.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
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By the 1540s, Spanish explorers had named the Philippines after their crown prince, the soon-to-be Philip II, who would reign for almost the entire second half of the 16th century.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Over the past two years, the Shehadehs have made several attempts to return to their land and their crops – only to be pushed back by settlers, the army or both.—
Zeena Saifi,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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White South Africans, whose roots can be traced to settlers arriving under Dutch and British colonial rule, dominated the country through a system of racial segregation known as apartheid from 1948 until its abolishment in the early 1990s.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Trailblazers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trailblazers. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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