leader

noun

ˈlē-dər How to pronounce leader (audio)
Definition of leadernext
1
as in pioneer
one that takes the lead or sets an example an architectural firm that is widely regarded as a leader in innovative residential design

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in boss
the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do the team leader is good at making sure that everyone keeps busy at their assigned tasks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in conduit
a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas) the leader funnels water off of the roof and down into the cistern

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 leader With the 2026 midterm election a little more than two weeks away, Dallas city leaders are making their biggest push yet to convince the public that the police and fire departments need a number of costly new facilities. — J.d. Miles, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 In battleground states across the country, these faith leaders and hundreds of their colleagues will assume the role of poll chaplains for one day. — ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026 The cult leader worked as a taxi driver in the early 1990s before becoming increasingly focused on religion, Reuters reported. — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 20 Oct. 2026 That dissatisfaction, driven in large part by the federal government’s energy policies, comes as Canadian leaders are placing particular emphasis on national unity. — Chantelle Lee, Time, 20 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leader
Recent Examples of Synonyms for leader
  1. pioneer
  2. boss
  3. conduit
  4. pacesetter
  5. foreman
  6. pipe
  7. captain
  8. channel
Noun
  • In a statement sent to The Charlotte Observer, her daughter Hatiya Dunlap said Leeper was a multifaceted broadcasting pioneer whose lasting legacy extends far beyond her on-air work.
    — Chase Jordan October 20, Charlotte Observer, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Founded in 1986 in Guadalajara, Mexico, Maná is considered a pioneer of rock en español.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of pioneer
Noun
  • Pullin’s sudden resignation will not lead to equally sudden departures of the football coach or AD, but their respective futures will be impacted by his exit as they will both be evaluated by their old new boss.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Former SquareOne Entertainment boss Munteanu created the series and is unveiling a first look (above) today during his keynote at MIA in Rome.
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of boss
Noun
  • His Kyrie organization now serves as a TEFA conduit for three new locations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The city's conduit agreement with BGE calls for $120 million of capital improvements over the course of four years.
    — Bryan Lynn, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of conduit
Noun
  • As pacesetter Powershift fell behind down the stretch, Commandment and Golden Tempo burst ahead, running neck-and-neck before Golden Tempo pulled away and crossed the finish line by more than a length.
    — Emily Ohman, New York Times, 6 June 2026
  • Though a genre-fluid affair, the Blue Note fest also features some of the most adventurous pacesetters in modern jazz, among them the flautist Shabaka, the London septet Kokoroko, the trumpeter Chief Adjuah, and the harpist Brandee Younger.
    — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 22 May 2026
Definition of pacesetter
Noun
  • Rooms in the back of the second and third floors had mahogany window frames that peered into the main space, allowing a foreman to supervise workers.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The Nepal Electricity Authority named the two men who were rescued alive as 30-year-old Sanjay Sah, a mechanical foreman from Saptari district in eastern Nepal, and Kabir Maharjan, 45, a mechanical supervisor from Kathmandu.
    — Bhadra Sharma, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of foreman
Noun
  • The mollusks can form dense colonies that clog pipes, obstruct water flow and foul boat motors.
    — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Prolonged pump stoppages could lead to a disastrous local scenario of ruptured water supply, district heating, and sewage pipes, even if electricity remains available elsewhere in the country.
    — Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of pipe
Noun
  • Adebayo, who took over as Heat captain when Haslem retired, is also on a path that could result in a Heat jersey retirement ceremony down the road.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Manchester United's loss to Bournemouth increased the pressure on manager Michael Carrick, who dropped captain Bruno Fernandes from the starting lineup.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of captain
Noun
  • While a filter holds the foam back, the gas passes through another channel into the eyedrop chamber, where the pressure exerted by it pushes the medication down a final microfluidic channel that leads directly into the corner of the patient's eye.
    — Ben Coxworth October 23, New Atlas, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Most of the nitrogen used in fertilizer travels through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping channel in the Middle East controlled by Iran.
    — Saige Miller, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of channel

Browse Nearby Words

leaden
leader
leaders
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Cite this Entry

“Leader.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leader. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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