as in aviators
one who flies or is qualified to fly an aircraft or spacecraft
the airline is seeking experienced pilots to fly the new airplane
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in guides
to give advice and instruction to (someone) regarding the course or process to be followed
piloted the figure skater through the national championships
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in steers
to point out the way for (someone) especially from a position in front
the lead rider piloted the rest of the team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pilots
Rina Nakano, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Given that the cutoff age in America for commercial airline pilots is 65, eyebrows might be raised by making 82-year-old Ben Kingsley the captain on a flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
The jet smashed into the truck at 104 mph, separating its cockpit from the fuselage and killing both pilots.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Figuet said the concerns have mostly to do with the additional burden placed on pilots and the possibility of delays or other logistical issues.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
As battlefields become ever more saturated with drones and skilled FPV pilots, helicopter crews will need to assume drones could come for them from any angle at any time.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
That huge gap, and not mandatory vaccinations, transgender bomber pilots or immigrant semi drivers, should have been the key issue in the last six national elections.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
From their small space station, co-pilots David and Sarah have witnessed the nuclear annihilation of all life on earth.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2025
When Claire’s adult daughter Channing pilots the idea of going on a ski trip next year and starting her own holiday traditions, Claire completely ices her out and won’t consider it.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Dec. 2025
Maito then pilots one of these robots, called Gaine, and teams up with other mecha to take down the real evil Nouvelle Tokyo City.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Watch On For each mission simulation, one astronaut pilots the aircraft while another charts the landing area, marking key landmarks, identifying potential hazards and helping to track the flight path.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
Something awarded only to licensed pilots with a perfect safety record of 50 years, and less than one percent of airline pilots -- only a handful of women -- have received it.
—Rina Nakano, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Given that the cutoff age in America for commercial airline pilots is 65, eyebrows might be raised by making 82-year-old Ben Kingsley the captain on a flight from Los Angeles to Shanghai.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 28 Apr. 2026
The jet smashed into the truck at 104 mph, separating its cockpit from the fuselage and killing both pilots.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 28 Apr. 2026
Figuet said the concerns have mostly to do with the additional burden placed on pilots and the possibility of delays or other logistical issues.
—Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
As battlefields become ever more saturated with drones and skilled FPV pilots, helicopter crews will need to assume drones could come for them from any angle at any time.
—Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
That huge gap, and not mandatory vaccinations, transgender bomber pilots or immigrant semi drivers, should have been the key issue in the last six national elections.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 26 Apr. 2026
From their small space station, co-pilots David and Sarah have witnessed the nuclear annihilation of all life on earth.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
The drones are always recording and equipped with high-quality zoom and thermal cameras as a Cincinnati police officer remotely pilots the drone from the department's command center.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2025
When Claire’s adult daughter Channing pilots the idea of going on a ski trip next year and starting her own holiday traditions, Claire completely ices her out and won’t consider it.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Dec. 2025
Maito then pilots one of these robots, called Gaine, and teams up with other mecha to take down the real evil Nouvelle Tokyo City.
—Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Watch On For each mission simulation, one astronaut pilots the aircraft while another charts the landing area, marking key landmarks, identifying potential hazards and helping to track the flight path.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilots
Noun
-
The museum has a collection of artifacts and aircrafts such as the Apollo 9 Command Module, a mock-up of the Lockheed Vega 5B, flown by Amelia Earhart, B-58 Hustler flight plans and various pictures of famous aviators and airplanes.—
Carlos Rico,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The United States rescued two aviators whose fighter jet was shot down by Iran.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Wilderness guides at Magashi Peninsula are well trained, the accommodation and food spoiling, and the wildlife sightings glorious.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Rather than making decisions for clients, Bacon guides them through the process, keeping them focused on one area at a time.—
Panashe Matemba-Mutasa,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Fed traditionally steers clear of political whims when devising monetary policy in part to maintain credibility.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
This year’s event raised money for UpSpire, an employment program; Tarrant Area Food Bank; United Community Centers, focusing on food and literacy; and Tarrant To & Through Partnership, which steers students toward college or careers.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her husband, Drew, who filed for divorce after her resignation, coaches the boys team.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Mattei lauded Miller, who coaches the Angels’ C-team and works with the varsity guards, as a unicorn at the intersection of sports and music.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This is software that encrypts data traffic and routes it through private tunnels to secure servers to prevent anyone from being able to read it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
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The platform that routes content to the right provider, enforces terminology, tracks usage, maintains audit trails, and integrates with CI/CD pipelines and CMS platforms becomes the product.—
Wyles Daniel,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The information appears next to an April 26 Navy photo that shows Boxer transiting the Surigao Straight, roughly 4,000 nautical miles from the Strait of Hormuz.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
-
From all-world jazz guitarist Pat Metheny to super soprano Renee Fleming to the wonderful Smuin Ballet, there are a lot of great concerts and shows to catch this weekend and beyond.—
Randy McMullen,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pilots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilots. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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