pioneer 1 of 3

noun

ˌpī-ə-ˈnir How to pronounce pioneer (audio)
Definition of pioneernext
as in settler
a person who settles in a new region the hardships that the pioneers endured while taming the wilderness

Synonyms & Similar Words

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pioneer

2 of 3

adjective

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

pioneer

3 of 3

verb

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

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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
Noun
El Dia Despues might be considered the pioneer programme, but DAZN’s coverage, which started with the 2022-23 Liga season, also includes similar elements. — Pol Ballús, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026 New Atlas noted at the time that Samsung was following the path already established by pioneers such as Oura, but its arrival was a clear sign that smart rings were no longer just an experimental niche. — New Atlas, 2 Oct. 2026
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
Their pioneering work accelerated the field of nuclear science. — Andrea Richard, The Conversation, 2 Oct. 2026 The evolution of land plants and the development of soil go hand in hand—as these pioneering plants, trees, and animals died and their decomposing remains were recycled on land, by fungi and the first soil invertebrates, modern soils began to form. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pioneer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pioneer
  1. settler
  2. first
  3. establish
  4. colonist
  5. initial
  6. found
  7. foremost
  8. initiate
Noun
  • Israeli settlers opened fire on olive harvesters in the occupied West Bank on Wednesday, killing a Palestinian officer who responded to the attack and wounding 16, Palestinian officials said.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
  • At least one Palestinian was killed and 14 injured when Jewish settlers attacked olive farmers near the town of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, the official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported today.
    — Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of settler
Adjective
  • Now Ricketts is running for his first full six-year term against independent Dan Osborn -- a race that initially was not expected to be competitive but is now being watched by the national parties.
    — NICHOLAS INGRAM, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026
  • One of the first of those is when their AI program teaches itself to beat the machine in a notoriously difficult video game.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of first
Verb
  • The administration’s language would establish a range of mandatory minimum sentences based on the amount of loss involved in fraud schemes, according to the document.
    — Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Lafayette 148 will open its first Dallas boutique at NorthPark Center Tuesday, establishing a dedicated presence in the 30-year-old brand’s top five markets.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of establish
Noun
  • The animals reached Spain during the Roman Empire and were later brought to what is now Mexico by Spanish colonists in the 1500s.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Till then, although the frontier had been placed under imperial control, land-hungry colonists and companies kept pushing across it.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of colonist
Adjective
  • However, Efthymiou has been unable to get GBP100,000 (about $130,000) to perform the initial mouse-model study.
    — Deepa Fernandes, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In the initial screening, AccuPoint Solutions uses a variety of primary data points as a minimum baseline, maximum ceiling or within a range to eliminate those firms that do not meet CNBC's requirements.
    — Kelli Grant, CFP®,Riley de León, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of initial
Verb
  • Fabscrap was founded in 2016 by New York City Department of Sanitation employee Jessica Schreiber.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2026
  • King Promise founded Rent Paid to fundraise for local community charities, including the Nungua Orphanage, which provides support to those under 16 in the area.
    — Sophie Williams, Billboard, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of found
Adjective
  • Considered the foremost institution for Asian art in the United States, this additional space will give the museum more room to display roughly 4,000 historic and contemporary works from its more than 21,000-piece collection of Asian artists.
    — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Seeing the internet’s foremost disciple of glow meet the internet’s foremost purveyor of good lighting, though, feels quite satisfying—who else needs another excuse to update that Sephora cart?
    — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of foremost
Verb
  • New forms of payment, including digital currency, are working their way into everyday transactions, and AI is beginning to move from informing decisions to initiating and completing them.
    — Andy Zosel, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • That's the message in a Tuesday note from analysts at Melius who initiated coverage on the housing sector — putting a buy rating and a $397-per-share price target on Home Depot .
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of initiate

Browse Nearby Words

pinwheels
pioneer
pioneered
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Cite this Entry

“Pioneer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pioneer. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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