1
as in pioneer
a person or group that originates new concepts, styles, and techniques
The Beatles are recognized as some of the greatest trailblazers of rock music.
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2
as in colonist
a person who settles in a new region
The Mayflower brought with it a group of European trailblazers, determined to make a home of that land dubbed "New England."
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Recent Examples of trailblazer
For Candice Drakeford, the WNBA’s creative director, the image spots are an opportunity to pay tribute and demonstrate that the league was built on the back of trailblazers like Swoopes.
—
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
Prior to this point, the Dead were intergalactic musical trailblazers with a grounding in the earthy rhythm and blues of this world of ours.
—Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
The film focuses on three of these women—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—who were trailblazers for African American women in science and engineering.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026
In Aries – the zodiac’s fearless trailblazer — the sun burns hotter and brighter.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trailblazer
Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
Prior to this point, the Dead were intergalactic musical trailblazers with a grounding in the earthy rhythm and blues of this world of ours.
—Colin Fleming, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026
The film focuses on three of these women—Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson—who were trailblazers for African American women in science and engineering.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026
In Aries – the zodiac’s fearless trailblazer — the sun burns hotter and brighter.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trailblazer
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trailblazer
Noun
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Even the pioneers of AI will tell you, Stassun said, in many cases, what AI does very well is rapidly synthesizing, consolidating or repackaging existing information.—
National Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Commissioners McSlavkin and Ella Cross both questioned a historical mural in the tunnel, which includes controversial pioneers John Sutter and Peter Burnett, during the meeting.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In the centuries since colonists waged war against the crown, American’s attitudes toward the royals have shifted from hatred to adoration.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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The Courant has reported, most colonists were not exactly mesmerized by the notion of severing ties with the mother country.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The name, given by Spanish explorers, remained until 1850.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
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But back in 1872, the British explorer-historian William Winwood Reade had already forcefully made synthetic food a matter of sociocultural and ethical maturation.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trailblazer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trailblazer. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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