1
as in pioneers
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 colonists
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 trailblazers
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
Legends, trailblazers and crowd favorites Beyond Lovano, the 2026 lineup reads like a cross-generational jazz hall of fame.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Uzbekistan will make that two this summer, but the question is whether the 2006 trailblazers will be there as well.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2026
As some tech trailblazers in recent years have become more comfortable with developing weapons, Southern California has emerged as a hub for defense tech startups.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
These trailblazers are a fitting mix to represent the state of climate action in 2026.
—Time Staff, Time, 19 Mar. 2026
Outside’s 2026 Travel Awards feature 25 trailblazers, places to stay, and travel companies that are rewriting the rules of adventure.
—The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
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
Legends, trailblazers and crowd favorites Beyond Lovano, the 2026 lineup reads like a cross-generational jazz hall of fame.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Uzbekistan will make that two this summer, but the question is whether the 2006 trailblazers will be there as well.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2026
As some tech trailblazers in recent years have become more comfortable with developing weapons, Southern California has emerged as a hub for defense tech startups.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
These trailblazers are a fitting mix to represent the state of climate action in 2026.
—Time Staff, Time, 19 Mar. 2026
Outside’s 2026 Travel Awards feature 25 trailblazers, places to stay, and travel companies that are rewriting the rules of adventure.
—The Editors, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for trailblazers
Noun
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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
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The musician was born in Los Angeles and was a third-generation creative; his grandparents Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky were pioneers of Yiddish theater, while his dad Ted Thomas was a producer at the Mercury Theater Company in New York.—
Rachel DeSantis,
PEOPLE,
23 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
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Marco Polo’s Il milione gained widespread popularity among 13th- and 14th-century Europeans, and accounts from missionaries and explorers were published for audiences who often financed these voyages.—
Suzanne Dundas,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
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The name, given by Spanish explorers, remained until 1850.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Local history is also reflected in the design, with a Navy pilot (representing the former Naval Air Station Glenview); a member of the Kennicott family, the early settlers of The Grove; the Glenview Farmer’s Market; and a child riding in the 4th of July bike parade featured.—
Jennifer Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Apr. 2026
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Attacks by extremist settlers on Palestinians in the West Bank have surged since the brutal Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, with.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Trailblazers.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/trailblazers. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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