as in aviators
one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft
the airline is seeking experienced pilots to fly the new airplane
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in guides
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed
piloted the figure skater through the national championships
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in steers
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front
the lead rider piloted the rest of the team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pilots
Jordan Blum, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Antoine Forest, one of the two pilots killed in the crash at LaGuardia Airport, was a French-speaking Quebecer.
—CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
The plane's two pilots were killed in the crash.
—CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Sheets appear to be covering the front cockpit window, obscuring what would normally be the pilots’ forward view.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
On March 22, two pilots were killed when an Air Canada Express regional jet carrying 72 passengers and four crew members struck a Port Authority fire truck while landing on Runway 4 at the airport.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Moments after an Air Canada jet collided at high speed with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing the pilots and hurling a flight attendant from the aircraft, the passengers took their escape into their own hands.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
The two pilots killed in the collision between a passenger jet and a Port Authority fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night have been identified as Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2025
When Claire’s adult daughter Channing pilots the idea of going on a ski trip next year and starting her own holiday traditions, Claire completely ices her out and won’t consider it.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Dec. 2025
Maito then pilots one of these robots, called Gaine, and teams up with other mecha to take down the real evil Nouvelle Tokyo City.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Watch On For each mission simulation, one astronaut pilots the aircraft while another charts the landing area, marking key landmarks, identifying potential hazards and helping to track the flight path.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
And later this year, once a series of pilots prove successful, Emerald and Nvidia will open the first power-flexible, commercial AI factory, Nvidia’s 96-megawatt Vera Rubin AI Factory Research Center, in Virginia.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 31 Mar. 2026
Antoine Forest, one of the two pilots killed in the crash at LaGuardia Airport, was a French-speaking Quebecer.
—CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
The plane's two pilots were killed in the crash.
—CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Sheets appear to be covering the front cockpit window, obscuring what would normally be the pilots’ forward view.
—Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
On March 22, two pilots were killed when an Air Canada Express regional jet carrying 72 passengers and four crew members struck a Port Authority fire truck while landing on Runway 4 at the airport.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Moments after an Air Canada jet collided at high speed with a fire truck at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, killing the pilots and hurling a flight attendant from the aircraft, the passengers took their escape into their own hands.
—ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
The two pilots killed in the collision between a passenger jet and a Port Authority fire truck at New York's LaGuardia Airport late Sunday night have been identified as Antoine Forest and Mackenzie Gunther.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
The drones are always recording and equipped with high-quality zoom and thermal cameras as a Cincinnati police officer remotely pilots the drone from the department's command center.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2025
When Claire’s adult daughter Channing pilots the idea of going on a ski trip next year and starting her own holiday traditions, Claire completely ices her out and won’t consider it.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Dec. 2025
Maito then pilots one of these robots, called Gaine, and teams up with other mecha to take down the real evil Nouvelle Tokyo City.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Watch On For each mission simulation, one astronaut pilots the aircraft while another charts the landing area, marking key landmarks, identifying potential hazards and helping to track the flight path.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilots
Noun
-
Her easy jeans and beachy aviators give the polished jacket and bag a more casual feel.—
Katherine J Igoe,
InStyle,
3 Apr. 2026
-
In an interview with Nashville’s WKRN News, the singer shrugged off the ongoing Army investigation of the aviators involved in the unauthorized flight, suggesting that the pilots have nothing to be worried about.—
Annie Harrigan,
Billboard,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
During this in-home or virtual session, a specialist guides a client through their existing wardrobe, helping identify what works, what doesn’t and what’s missing.—
Bailey Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The sales manager who tells a client their request isn't right, then guides them to a better solution.—
Ryan Roslansky
Aneesh Raman,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Perfectionists Nini and Jane are feeling a bit neurotic, while Darlene Mitchell helpfully steers Juicy to develop a Karen that will lean into her strengths and make Ru laugh.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
28 Mar. 2026
-
In an era in high school sports where boos, jeers, and uncalled-for chants are the status quo, Shelton steers fans to uplift rather than put down.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This could be a program-defining weekend for UCLA or Texas — the first national title in the NCAA era for the Bruins or the first in 40 years for the Longhorns — and by extension, coaches Cori Close and Vic Schaefer.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2026
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Leonard coaches an athlete who has shown pro potential, his son, Caden Leonard.—
Greg Riddle,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Pact routes those materials through specialized processing, diverting large volumes of material from landfills, said Snider.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Feb. 2026
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How Phantom Shuttle steals your data Socket researchers say Phantom Shuttle routes all your web traffic through proxy servers controlled by the attacker.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The video shows Woods being handcuffed after failing a sobriety test.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Scientific evidence shows that kratom carries real risks that are often downplayed or misunderstood.—
Andrew Kolodny,
The Conversation,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pilots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilots. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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