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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pioneer
Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
The sales come as Kodak, a pioneer of the photography industry, has been struggling.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2024
Dave Smith, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
In the sketch, co-starring SNL’s Bowen Yang, James Austin Johnson, and Mikey Day, Bargatze plays the inventor of television, making bold pronouncements about what his pioneering device will lead to while fielding questions from his confused colleagues.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Noun
Then with the [SF drag pioneers of the late ‘60s] the Cockettes and the Angels of Light [communal theater].
—Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
The sales come as Kodak, a pioneer of the photography industry, has been struggling.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 11 Sep. 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
Arbaugh also shared candid insights into his pioneering journey, including his memorable first encounter with Neuralink’s cofounder and the world’s richest man, Elon Musk.
—Dave Smith, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2025
In the sketch, co-starring SNL’s Bowen Yang, James Austin Johnson, and Mikey Day, Bargatze plays the inventor of television, making bold pronouncements about what his pioneering device will lead to while fielding questions from his confused colleagues.
—Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pioneer
Noun
-
Moreover, since quaggas were considered to be in competition with other domestic South African animals, quaggas were hunted in excess by both settlers and Afrikaners.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The settlers, their military escorts and 1,000 head of livestock traveled about 1,200 miles across rugged wilderness for about 5 1/2 months to forts and missions.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The first pair, Wild Life (1440p) and Wild Life Extreme (4K), uses the Vulkan graphics API to measure GPU speeds.—
Charles Jefferies,
PC Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The first hepatitis B vaccine was licensed in 1981, and the ACIP recommended a vaccine dose universally for all babies in 1991.—
Dr. Jade Cobern,
ABC News,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Baby Boomers experienced more traditional career models, while Gen Z is still in the early stage of establishing financial security and could feel limited in taking such breaks.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
-
With the goal of being a resource for both emerging and established creative talent, the 2,000 square-foot space will soon introduce educational initiatives and mentorship opportunities led by filmmakers hoping to inspire the next generation of storytellers.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Their pacifism later brings them in direct conflict with the colonists gearing up to fight the British.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
-
The over-the-top propaganda that leads the game off suggests the Earth Directorate is here to protect colonists from out-of-control corporations and tyrannical governments.—
Kyle Orland,
ArsTechnica,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Place your initial $5 bet on one of Sunday's games to instantly unlock $200 in bonus bets alongside a $200 NFL Sunday Ticket discount.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Ruud made a big push at the start of the second set, looking to basically stick a fork in the match by winning the 28-year-old American’s initial service game.—
Jim Harrington,
Mercury News,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Best known for its custom furniture and traditional-leaning aesthetic, The Inside, like Havenly, was also female-founded.—
Amanda Lauren,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Ermiya Fanaeian, a transgender woman of color and formerly a diversity director at the University of Utah, founded AQSLC after parting ways with the Pink Pistols, an LGBT organization advocating in support of firearm safety and bearing arms as a means of self-defense.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders.—
Anna Forsythe,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
But some of its foremost victims aren’t Israeli Jews.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The recall was initiated after testing by the state of Pennsylvania at a distributor revealed the presence of listeria in the finished products.—
Matthew Robinson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Sagoo did not pay the FBAR penalties, and the Government initiated a lawsuit to collect them (referred to as reducing the FBAR penalties to judgment).—
Matthew L. Roberts,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pioneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pioneer. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share