as in settler
a person who settles in a new region
the hardships that the pioneers endured while taming the wilderness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in first
coming before all others in time or order
the nation's pioneer institution for the education of African-Americans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to establish
to be responsible for the creation and early operation or use of
he single-handedly pioneered the university's institute for medical research
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pioneer
Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 8 July 2025
Mary Shelley was a literary pioneer and her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, a feminist icon.
—Daphne Woolsoncroft, People.com, 8 July 2025
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
Time, 16 July 2025
Oakley has also pioneered X Metal, a proprietary material used in high-performance frames.
—Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Noun
Not all of them were there for mining—some Italians looked to the land for different riches and became pioneers of Golden State winemaking.
—Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 8 July 2025
Mary Shelley was a literary pioneer and her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft, a feminist icon.
—Daphne Woolsoncroft, People.com, 8 July 2025
Adjective
In tandem with the modernist movement of the 20th century was the Danish concept of functionalism; a design philosophy of form follows function, which was introduced by pioneer Danish architects like Poul Henningsen and Vilhelm Lauritzen.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
The governor also pioneered civil service reform, insisting that government jobs be awarded on merit.
—Time, 16 July 2025
Oakley has also pioneered X Metal, a proprietary material used in high-performance frames.
—Cassell Ferere, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pioneer
Noun
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It’s alleged that an 18th-century settler named David Askins was considering moving to Kentucky from Pennsylvania, but decided instead to settle in the Quaker State’s southwestern corner and dubbed it Little Kentuck.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
14 July 2025
-
But its history can be traced back to the early settlers of the Steele Creek neighborhood.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
With the first two episodes already having so much drama, the rest of the summer is sure to be eventful.—
Dina Kaur,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
-
The project is the first to enlist youth to do this monitoring.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
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The plan is the department's effort to establish a clear vision while seeking community input to create a roadmap for the department over the next five years.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
24 July 2025
-
Set your mower blade height at 3 inches and establish a mowing schedule that removes only about one-third of the grass blades each session.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
23 July 2025
Noun
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The colonists settled mainly in the Colorado and Brazos river basins.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
-
For millennia, Indigenous peoples in North America, and later European colonists, derived part of their year-round sustenance from juneberry.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
That makes the the initial 0.5% of income donated to charity not deductible.—
Bruce Brumberg,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Last-minute amendments watered down initial requirements to produce annual impact assessments and mitigate algorithmic discrimination in an attempt to make the bill more palatable to the governor.—
Angela Eichhorst,
Hartford Courant,
15 July 2025
Verb
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The company was founded by Paola Peraza Calderon, Ry Walker, Greg Neiheisel, Viraj Parekh, and Pete DeJoy.—
Sandy Carter,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
-
While the group calls itself Hong Kong Parliament, its electoral organizing committee was founded in Canada and its influence is limited.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 July 2025
Adjective
-
Just as Russia has declined in its military might since the break-up of the Soviet Union a generation ago, Grossfeld says, its status as one of the globe’s foremost space powers has likewise slipped away.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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But all that nuttiness took place a long time ago, under the influence, and, according to the world’s foremost Ozzy authority, such is not really the case.—
Erik Hedegaard,
Rolling Stone,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Train managers to initiate—not just relay—purpose conversations.—
HEC Paris Insights,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
Some of those people, joined by younger tribal members, later initiated the long process of restoring their lifeblood, the Klamath River and its watershed.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pioneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pioneer. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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