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
Made By History, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
Collins went on to join another funk pioneer: George Clinton, whose alternating bands Parliament and Funkadelic were innovating a looser, more improvisational and funnier style that would help define Black music in the ’70s.
—Steve Knopper, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2025
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
Elmhurst History Museum’s newest exhibit, Acre by Acre: Our Farming Heritage, examines the roots put down by pioneering families in the west suburbs between about 1850 and 1950.
—Graydon Megan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Noun
Long a pioneer in chemical fertilizer, Germany backed its industry with aggressive state intervention.
— Made By History, Time, 15 Apr. 2025
Collins went on to join another funk pioneer: George Clinton, whose alternating bands Parliament and Funkadelic were innovating a looser, more improvisational and funnier style that would help define Black music in the ’70s.
—Steve Knopper, Billboard, 9 Apr. 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 home was designed by architect Reginald D. Johnson in 1928 and sits on 5 acres of gardens designed by pioneering landscape architect Katherine Bashford.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
Elmhurst History Museum’s newest exhibit, Acre by Acre: Our Farming Heritage, examines the roots put down by pioneering families in the west suburbs between about 1850 and 1950.
—Graydon Megan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pioneer
Noun
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My life is still at the mercy of the settlers and the occupation.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
25 Apr. 2025
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The district and town are named for the Massapequa Tribe that lived on Long Island before European settlers arrived in the 1600s.—
Elizabeth Crisp,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The 2024 football season was Belichick's first away from the sideline in nearly 50 years.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
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Harper started the party in the first inning with a two-run homer off Alcantara — his fifth of the season and the third in the last four games.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
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What things like weekly releases, time slots, and appointment television do is establish a habit.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
18 Apr. 2025
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The Pentagon established several timelines for capabilities to be delivered starting with early 2026 to those delivered after 2030.—
Mike Stone and Marisa Taylor,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Correspondent Mo Rocca explores the dramatic events of that fateful day 250 years ago; and hears from reenactors about why the colonists' ideals still hold true today.—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2025
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Now, that all began to change in 1774 when the conflict between the colonists and Britain began to heat up.—
Ari Daniel,
Smithsonian Magazine,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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As with the coal black tree snake, the atra tree snake has thus far only been found on its initial island of discovery, Misima.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
24 Apr. 2025
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The cost of the initial investment has not been fully determined, Roberts said.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Agrigento was founded in 580 B.C. as the largest Greek colony in Sicily.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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For those unfamiliar, the brand was founded in Texas in the 1980s and remained on the scene until the death of its founder, Jim Autry, in 2009.—
Lina-Marie Baatz,
Glamour,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The Iranians are responding to several inducements, foremost among them the staggering array of forces the United States has prepositioned in the Middle East.—
The Editors,
National Review,
17 Apr. 2025
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Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Ryan Ferrier,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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China is currently still saddled with a 145% import tariff, and the others were slated for tariffs ranging from 26% to 49% before Trump's 90-day pause initiated on April 9.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2025
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Separately, the Department of Education is initiating a rulemaking process this week that may further alter or curtail access to those programs.—
Adam S. Minsky,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pioneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pioneer. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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