as in pioneers
someone who is the first to do something or be somewhere
The deep-sea explorer set out to discover shipwrecks long lost to history.
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Recent Examples of explorers
The personal, intimate look invited explorers to travel back in time and imagine what once was.
—
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
The ship offers a rare opportunity to follow in the footsteps of historic polar explorers, paired with refined design, exceptional cuisine and a strong scientific mission.
—Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Some viewed the discovery as a divine gift, while a local priest chastised the explorers for unearthing Satan, saying the blowout was God’s punishment.
—The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Risk-taking explorers are not only in history books.
—Harvey Young, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
In the early 20th century, Western explorers became obsessed with the peak of Mount Everest.
—Christopher Ferguson, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
The state is one of many from the original 13 colonies to be named by European explorers, as Europeans settled in Rhode Island all the way back in the 1630s.
—Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 28 Jan. 2026
There’s also a Carkol, a minecart-like creature, and a Sableye hoarding some jewels, plus some Pokémon fossils for eagle-eyed explorers.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
For more than 25 years, the orbital outpost has been occupied without interruption by a continuously rotating crew of intrepid explorers.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 1 Feb. 2026
The ship offers a rare opportunity to follow in the footsteps of historic polar explorers, paired with refined design, exceptional cuisine and a strong scientific mission.
—Laura Begley Bloom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Some viewed the discovery as a divine gift, while a local priest chastised the explorers for unearthing Satan, saying the blowout was God’s punishment.
—The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026
Risk-taking explorers are not only in history books.
—Harvey Young, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2026
In the early 20th century, Western explorers became obsessed with the peak of Mount Everest.
—Christopher Ferguson, Big Think, 29 Jan. 2026
The state is one of many from the original 13 colonies to be named by European explorers, as Europeans settled in Rhode Island all the way back in the 1630s.
—Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 28 Jan. 2026
There’s also a Carkol, a minecart-like creature, and a Sableye hoarding some jewels, plus some Pokémon fossils for eagle-eyed explorers.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026
For more than 25 years, the orbital outpost has been occupied without interruption by a continuously rotating crew of intrepid explorers.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for explorers
Noun
-
In the early morning hours in 1959, a small airplane carrying early rock pioneers Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens crashed in a frozen Iowa cornfield, killing all on board.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Before the game, Brown gave a speech to the crowd while accompanied by family members of the three pioneers.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Savvy travelers use it to enjoy in-flight entertainment on their personal devices without juggling a phone the entire flight.—
Carin Ryan,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Confusion for travelers Travel plans on both sides of the border were disrupted.—
Darlene Superville,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Explorers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/explorers. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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