as in pilot
one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft
the solo flight from New York to Paris by the aviator Charles Lindbergh captured the imagination of people around the world
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Recent Examples of aviator
Axiom Space’s Director of Human Spaceflight and former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson is the mission commander with aviator John Shoffner as pilot and two mission specialist seats paid for by the Saudi Space Commission, Rayyanah Barnawi and Ali AlQarni.
—
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Tucking a cozy gray knit into pleated trousers, the singer and actress accessorized with platform peep-toe heels and oversized aviator sunnies.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
However the role of naval aviators—renowned for their flying skills—has not been eliminated, and unmanned technology is seeing pilots able to wield swarms of drones under their command in flight.
—Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
With allowable errors in the helicopter’s altimeters and other equipment, as well as Army rules expecting aviators to hold their altitude within 100 feet, the aircraft can end up being much closer.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aviator
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2026
Tucking a cozy gray knit into pleated trousers, the singer and actress accessorized with platform peep-toe heels and oversized aviator sunnies.
—Hannah Malach, InStyle, 29 Jan. 2026
However the role of naval aviators—renowned for their flying skills—has not been eliminated, and unmanned technology is seeing pilots able to wield swarms of drones under their command in flight.
—Zita Ballinger Fletcher, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
With allowable errors in the helicopter’s altimeters and other equipment, as well as Army rules expecting aviators to hold their altitude within 100 feet, the aircraft can end up being much closer.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aviator
Recent Examples of Synonyms for aviator
pilot
Noun
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It was made by Meir's childhood best friend, as well as Crew-12 pilot Jack Hathaway's daughter.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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District 230 communications director Jennifer Waterman said, as with any co-curricular in pilot status, the club’s participation levels will be reviewed regularly, and student engagement and adherence to schoolwide expectations will be monitored.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Aviator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/aviator. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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