PIONEERING Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

pioneering 1 of 2

adjective

as in revolutionary

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pioneering

2 of 2

verb

present participle of pioneer

as in founding

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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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 pioneering

Adjective

Auchincloss compares it to the pioneering clinical trial model that the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation built in the 1990s to study the disease. — Gerry Smith, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 As with their neighbors to the south, residents of Canada’s western prairie and mountain provinces take pride in a pioneering spirit and rugged independence that have enabled them to prosper in often harsh terrain. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 21 Oct. 2026 L’Artisan Parfumeur has remained a pioneering niche perfume brand with an independent, free spirit. — Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026 The Orient Express was a pioneering international rail service that began in 1883, but its end destination, Turkey, didn’t adopt the Gregorian calendar until more than 40 years later. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026 Jean-Pierre Laffont is a pioneering French-American photojournalist who documented pivotal moments of the 20th century. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 Viagra had come along five years earlier, an immediate pioneering blockbuster. — Bob Brody, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026 Based on Aira Bonfim’s in-depth research, the short film tells the story of Dona Carlota Rezende, the coach of the pioneering female football team Primavera Atlético Clube, in the 1940s. — Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Dongliang, the pioneering multi-brand concept store, will act as Our Legacy’s operational partner in the country. — Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026

Verb

Under the pioneering spirit of art director Luca Nichetto, a global roster of names are refreshing this ages-old company’s profile, among them Swedish design studio Claesson Koivisto Rune. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026 Decline tends to set in when willful stasis coincides with the rise of a rival more committed to pioneering. — Niall Ferguson, Foreign Affairs, 20 Oct. 2026 Moderated by Billboard’s Ingrid Fajardo, the Colombian hitmaker and pioneering Puerto Rican duo broke down some of their biggest respective hits. — Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2026 Perhaps pioneering new media strategies and must-see additional programming are still on the way, but for now, Bilton’s notebook of ideas has yet to yield appreciable results. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 19 Oct. 2026 John Mayer, Michael Jordan, and Sam Altman are rightly known as pioneering, if not rule-breaking, leaders in their respective fields—who also happen to be three notable collectors of the startup Swiss watchmaker Vanguart. — Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 18 Oct. 2026 His larger insight was that pioneering technological networks reconfigure how distance, mobility and military power relate to one another. — Gerard Toal, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 Fifty years ago, scientists pioneering a terrifying gene-splicing technology figured out a way to collectively hit pause. — Nick Fountain, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026 The diaries provide great details on what life was like in those pioneering days. — Kevin Strong, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pioneering

Adjective

Communist, socialist, Trotskyist, anti-capitalist or revolutionary-left organization or chapter.

— Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
In fact, while surely revolutionary, continuity and longevity are also applicable to Prada.

— Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of revolutionary

Verb

Maslansky was married to Michael Maslansky — a founding partner (with Pat Kingsley and Neil Koenigsberg) of what would become PMK Public Relations — from 1975 until his death in 1993 of stroke complications at age 55.

— Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026
In June, Advance became Avalo’s founding mill partner for the denim market across China, Vietnam and Cambodia.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of founding

Adjective

As for the trailblazing March on Washington scene, Wolfe requested for organizers, attendees, and background characters to wear pastel hues and Leslie James accomplished that brilliantly.

— Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 18 Nov. 2023
As a trailblazing black woman in politics, Chisholm was used to having her loyalty questioned.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Apr. 2020

Definition of trailblazing

Verb

The first flight will be a milestone in establishing how the design performs beyond the development environment.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
There is overwhelming support among Jewish Israelis for establishing a state commission to investigate the events of October 7th, and for imposing the draft on the ultra-Orthodox.

— Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of establishing

Adjective

By increasing its manufacturing capacity, the company aims to strengthen its ability to deliver advanced systems to customers.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Back the companies willing to take risks The United States needs an advanced manufacturing ecosystem that includes more than behemoths with access to capital markets and giant lines of credit.

— Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of advanced

Verb

Research has demonstrated the importance of initiating appropriate treatment early in the course of disease, before neurological damage accumulates.

— Bruce Bebo, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026
Palestinians and their amen corner believe there are no consequences for initiating war after war and losing.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of initiating

Adjective

Both already serve as the ranking members of their respective committees, and Warren, in particular, has found success pursuing progressive policy priorities despite Republicans running Washington.

— David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
And in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed has narrowly won the Democratic Senate nomination, a victory for the party's progressive wing.

— Brittney Melton, NPR, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of progressive

Verb

The evening kicked off with Tarantino introducing the film and shared that had not seen the film at that theater.

— Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 24 Oct. 2026
The question is whether the new Atlas makes everyday family life easier without introducing a fresh collection of things to complain about.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of introducing

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Style

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

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Synonyms of pioneering

adjective

verb

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