as in founder
a person who establishes a whole new field of endeavor
as the initiator of printing from movable type, Gutenberg revolutionized people's access to written language
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Recent Examples of initiator
Los Angeles also employed Luke Kennard as a ballhandler and initiator, and guard Marcus Smart is back after missing nearly three weeks with a right ankle injury.
—
ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
As the system doesn’t require kick-starting with chemical initiators, it could eventually be integrated into large-scale industrial recycling plants.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
Ausar Thompson is the Pistons’ second-most effective offensive initiator after Cunningham.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Peterson is breathtakingly talented as a scorer and on-ball initiator, but health concerns have marred an otherwise impressive freshman season.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
History suggests that wars aimed at reshaping political systems hardly ever unfold as their initiators intend.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
And when Aaron's healthier, that's an initiator of our offense as well.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
PiqlFilm is also the initiator of the Arctic World Archive (AWA), a repository for world memory located in Northern Norway on the Arctic Ocean.
—Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The mega-stars and Göteborg natives Alicia Vikander and Ruben Östlund are major supporters of the festival – Alicia as initiator of the Alicia Vikander Film Lab which supports next gen filmmakers in Góteborg and Ruben as Honorary President.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Jan. 2026
ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026
As the system doesn’t require kick-starting with chemical initiators, it could eventually be integrated into large-scale industrial recycling plants.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2026
Ausar Thompson is the Pistons’ second-most effective offensive initiator after Cunningham.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Peterson is breathtakingly talented as a scorer and on-ball initiator, but health concerns have marred an otherwise impressive freshman season.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2026
History suggests that wars aimed at reshaping political systems hardly ever unfold as their initiators intend.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
And when Aaron's healthier, that's an initiator of our offense as well.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2026
PiqlFilm is also the initiator of the Arctic World Archive (AWA), a repository for world memory located in Northern Norway on the Arctic Ocean.
—Thomas Coughlin, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
The mega-stars and Göteborg natives Alicia Vikander and Ruben Östlund are major supporters of the festival – Alicia as initiator of the Alicia Vikander Film Lab which supports next gen filmmakers in Góteborg and Ruben as Honorary President.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 16 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for initiator
Noun
-
Today guests come not from Rome as the Cité’s founders did, but from across France, northern Spain (the border is just two hours away), England (there are direct Ryanair flights to Carcassonne’s small airport), as well as the US.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The idea to create these pieces, which deftly straddle the world of art and fashion, came from a sketch that founder Erin Saluti made more than a decade ago—her dream purse, made from a block of wood.—
Mark Ellwood,
Robb Report,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
For a longstanding comedy series like ABC‘s Abbott Elementary, creator Quinta Brunson faces the challenge every season of expanding characters’ backstories and keeping things interesting for those who have watched since Season 1.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
26 Apr. 2026
-
RuPaul’s Drag Race stars Willam, Trinity the Tuck, Morgan McMichaels, Gottmik and Symone were also in the mix, as was TikTok creator Harry Daniels, who was reportedly waiting at the door to serenade her on arrival.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The bar’s signature Brunello Bloody Mary nods to the hotel’s long-standing history as the drink's inventors and remains a house classic, richer and more savory than most, thanks to the wine-forward twist.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The Baker-Burke moment at Dodger Stadium remains the most widely cited, but the Louisville claim carries real weight — and the cultural threads running through military history and Black American vernacular suggest the gesture may not have had a single inventor at all.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That study’s authors suggested that, despite having larger total cranial capacity (more room in their skulls), Neanderthals, on average, had smaller cerebellums than Homo sapiens.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Cowritten with veteran author Lin Oliver, Hawn's book follows three outlier elementary school students who strike up a friendship and decide to find a home for a rambunctious shelter dog.—
Eric Andersson,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
As the Ado Annie-like Betsy, a horny teen-ager whose father owns a shotgun, Kurtz is playing a character who should be, and kind of is, a one-joke punch line.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Wilson’s father, Bruce, and Sweeney’s mother, Kelly, are Gayle Wilson’s stepchildren, according to TMZ.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Initiator.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/initiator. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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