LEADS Synonyms: 206 Similar and Opposite Words

leads 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lead

as in steers

to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front an enthusiastic docent led our group through the art museum

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Relevance

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as in commands

to serve as leader of a senior programmer is leading the team that is developing the new accounting software

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as in accompanies

to be at the front of the local high school's marching band led the parade

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as in extends

to be positioned along a certain course or in a certain direction this old road leads to an abandoned quarry

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as in guides

to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed the salesclerk led us through the maze of options now available to television buyers

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leads

2 of 2

noun

plural of lead

as in principals

the person who has the most important role in a play, movie, or TV show the actor's career has really taken off since he became the lead in that prime-time drama

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as in distances

the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects the runner maintained a lead of several meters all the way around the track

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as in tips

a piece of advice or useful information especially from an expert my sister got a lead on the job opening from her neighbor, who is the human resources director for the company

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as in clues

a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation) the police are now working on several leads generated by the evidence gathered at the crime scene

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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 leads

Verb

Macron can’t seek a third consecutive term, and far-right leader Marine Le Pen leads polling for the first round of the presidential election on April 18. — Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 Cooper has led wire-to-wire over Republican opponent Michael Whatley, maintaining wide polling and fundraising leads and forcing key GOP super PACs to pause spending in the race to focus elsewhere. — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2026 Toney leads the country with 66 catches and ranks third with 952 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2026 This season, Chawinga leads the Current with 12 goals, which is fourth in the NWSL, despite missing matches with injury and international duty. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026 The presidential election in Brazil leads today’s edition of The 7 briefing. — Jamie Ross, Washington Post, 26 Oct. 2026 The investigation remains active and ongoing, noting that additional arrests are possible as detectives continue to review physical evidence, trace leads and establish the full sequence of events. — Eric MacK, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026 Jasper Zhang is an ex-Citadel Securities quantitative researcher who now leads Hyperbolic. — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026 Parliament Speaker Ousmane Sonko, who leads the largest party in the legislature, said the budget sacrifices essential investment and demanded greater transparency over government finances. — Ruben Nyanguila, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Noun

Rough performances from Manning contributed to lost leads of 10 points against Red River rival Oklahoma and 14 points against Florida. — ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026 When reviewing nearly 17,000 missing persons reports left him with no leads, Cooper turned to the 29 keys that had been sitting in an evidence room for decades, collecting dust. — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 Investigation, suspects, and theories A massive search failed to turn up Madeleine or produce any firm leads. — Frannie Comstock, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026 Elk Grove Mayor Bobbie Singh-Allen and police officials hope the governor’s reward will generate new leads in the killings. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026 In the crazy one, the Dodgers blew two four-run leads, tied the score with three runs in the ninth inning and lost in the 10th. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 And Le Pen is polling well against the centrist candidates in a possible final round, with small to medium leads. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026 The Lions came out swinging and built leads of 9-2, 17-9 and 21-14. — Tony Baranek, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 The Philadelphia Eagles are 2-3 and have lost three straight, including their last two games after blowing fourth-quarter leads. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leads

Verb

The band frequently steers the poppy songwriting offroad by leaning into distortion and ambience, creating moments of both near-mania and hazy unease.

— Sue Park, Pitchfork, 22 Oct. 2026
Allen, who serves as founder, chairman and CEO of Allen Media Group, steers a portfolio that covers TV, film, streaming and broadcast with The Weather Channel, HBCUGO, TheGrio Television Network, BuzzFeed and HuffPost.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of steers

Verb

The Federal Arbitration Act commands arbitration awards receive high deference and can only be vacated in limited circumstances, such as when the arbitrator engaged in fraud.

— Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 Oct. 2026
For brand strategists, that points to a bifurcated market where prestige equity still commands a premium but messaging around resourcefulness and value is no longer a down-market cue.

— Ashley Lynch, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of commands

Verb

The tale is energized by the thoughtful performances of Hanns Zischler, as Mann, and Sandra Hüller, as the author’s daughter Erika, who accompanies him while reviving conflicts from her own past.

— Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2026
Veteran jazz journalist Richard Scheinin accompanies the photos with vivid, detailed prose.

— Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of accompanies

Verb

Applegate’s willingness to share her experience has brought attention to an issue that extends far beyond any one person’s diagnosis.

— Bruce Bebo, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
But the versatility of the color doesn’t end with clothes; the beauty of camel extends to accessories, making even the smallest details feel luxe.

— InStyle, InStyle, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of extends

Verb

School board trustees are elected volunteers who shape district budgets and policies and hire a superintendent who guides day-to-day decisions.

— Sophia Veneziano, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026
Over the years, Best of Beauty became the seal that guides hands across shelves by empowering Allure readers with the knowledge of what makes a product great… long before the advent of social media and the ubiquitous #GRWM.

— Hunter Lacey, Allure, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of guides

Noun

Eighty-six percent of family-office principals and senior executives are including crypto in their investment strategies.

— Angelica Ang, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Private equity and venture capital are the top two categories expected to receive more investments among Gen Z and millennial principals, at 41% each.

— Robert Frank, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of principals

Noun

Scientists have been able to measure quantum effects in larger and more complex systems and over great distances, blurring the line once thought to separate the scale of observer and observed.

— Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
According to the researchers, inflation stretched tiny quantum fluctuations across vast distances in the early universe.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026