LEADERS Synonyms: 118 Similar and Opposite Words

leaders

noun

plural of leader

as in conduits

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

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as in bosses

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

as in pioneers

one that takes the lead or sets an example an architectural firm that is widely regarded as a leader in innovative residential design

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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 leaders State elections officials, other state leaders, voting rights advocates and election experts all cheered the ruling. — Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026 When a major renovation of Northeast High School appeared at risk, residents and local leaders spoke up. — Tim Lonergan, Sun Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026 The president — who is separately elected by the Knesset, Israel’s single-chamber legislature — then convenes party leaders to hear their recommendations for prime minister before choosing someone to form a government. — New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 The Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops rebuffed his effort, saying church leaders get to decide church policy and how to keep their campuses safe. — Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026 In a recent letter, the two leaders criticized the EPA for failing to oversee the generators and called for the group to regulate generator emissions. — Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 28 Oct. 2026 Lu recently met with a group of students and told them that, as future leaders, the responsibility for managing this evolution might well be on them. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2026 State lawmakers and Cheltenham School District leaders gathered Tuesday at Cheltenham High School to discuss the law and the circumstances that led to its passage. — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 28 Oct. 2026 Check out what our reporters found were the top priorities among financial leaders. — Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leaders

Noun

Nord Stream 1 and 2 are two major conduits created to funnel Russian gas to Europe, via Germany.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Hailed as a bold experiment seven years ago, the Sanfic-Morbido Lab, part of Sanfic’s industry section Sanfic Industria, has evolved into one of the region’s most consistent conduits for fantastic/genre filmmaking.

— Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of conduits

Noun

Our conversation is also perfectly timed to Mohammed’s latest role in George Kay’s slick, sexy War, which landed a two-season order from Sky bosses.

— Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026
Instead, agency bosses allowed the company to restart operations without consequence.

— Nick Bowlin, ProPublica, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of bosses

Noun

From honoring industry pioneers with the Latin Music Legacy Award to bringing Tito Nieves and Luis Figueroa together to discuss the evolution of salsa, AARP was part of the conversations where culture, community and generations connect.

— Billboard Staff, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2026
But beyond icon status, Moncler praises its three leading ladies as pioneers.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of pioneers

Noun

Construction to complete the work for $600,000, with help from a company that specializes in repairing underground pipes.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Among the relics of its decline is a hulking complex of rusted pipes, towers and conveyor belts in Delano, just five miles north of the McFarland chipping yard.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of pipes

Noun

Customers were very important; workers, foremen.

— Michael Kilian, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
For years after that, TCU alums who had served as Ranch Week foremen or queen would proudly include it on resumes, in professional biographies or when running for office.

— Matt Leclercq, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2025

Definition of foremen

Noun

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
Brobbey, 24, has been at the heart of the Premier League’s surprise success story this season, playing an integral role in helping Sunderland keep in touch with the Premier League’s pacesetters.

— Simon Hughes, New York Times, 17 Feb. 2026

Definition of pacesetters

Noun

Riyadh said the discussions were aimed at keeping diplomatic channels open and preventing another escalation in hostilities.

— Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
Politics as usual As midterm elections approach, candidates up and down the ballot are blanketing the airwaves and digital channels with ads against data centers.

— Barbara A. Trish, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of channels

Noun

Throughout that year, as Israelis poured into the streets to protest Netanyahu's far-right government and its plan to weaken the judiciary, Netanyahu's security chiefs warned that regional enemies could take advantage of the turmoil to attack.

— Daniel Estrin, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
During a meeting with his army chiefs last week, Putin said Russian forces were on the offensive along the entire front line.

— Anastasiia Parafeniuk, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of chiefs

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leader

leaders

leadership

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Style

“Leaders.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leaders. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of leaders

noun

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