as in aviator
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
as in experimental
made or done as an experiment
a new pilot program to train inner-city residents for jobs in the tech sector
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to guide
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 to steer
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pilot
Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
And then, like in an action-adventure movie, two Southwest pilots swaggered up to the gate.
—Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2025
Xander Zellner, Billboard, 31 Jan. 2024
Both Macdonald and Hsu were eyed for the pilot role that went to Polanco, but they were cast in later episodes.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 June 2023
James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025
What are they used for? Drones, a term that encompasses uncrewed aerial vehicle piloted remotely, are widely used among hobbyists, commercial users and the military for a variety of purposes.
—Seth Jacobson, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pilot
Noun
The bill charges the IRS with implementing a pilot program that would send notices of a math or clerical error by certified or registered mail.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
And then, like in an action-adventure movie, two Southwest pilots swaggered up to the gate.
—Sherry Kuehl, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
The pilot episode of Hazbin Hotel was released in 2019 on YouTube, but the first season premiered on Jan. 18 on Amazon Prime.
—Xander Zellner, Billboard, 31 Jan. 2024
Both Macdonald and Hsu were eyed for the pilot role that went to Polanco, but they were cast in later episodes.
—Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 June 2023
Verb
Drones are typically detected by their noise or the radio frequency (RF) an operator uses to pilot the craft.
—James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2025
What are they used for? Drones, a term that encompasses uncrewed aerial vehicle piloted remotely, are widely used among hobbyists, commercial users and the military for a variety of purposes.
—Seth Jacobson, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pilot
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pilot
Noun
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With aviators on, hair thickly gelled and a crisp white uniform, Iceman is a smooth-talking pilot with skills to match.—
Hank Sanders,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2025
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Judge Settle also called out the Trump administration for seemingly disregarding the service history of the transgender soldiers who brought the case, such as the Commander Emily Shilling, a naval aviator with 19 years of service who flew 60 combat missions before becoming a Navy test pilot.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Look at how some firms in biotech are exploring next-generation solutions that move beyond early experimental compounds toward more refined, scalable technologies.—
Natalie Dolphin,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Weeks after rumors spread that Californian experimental hip-hop trio Death Grips had split, the band have now taken to social media to deny these claims.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Artists need to be prioritized, supported and guided.—
Katcy Stephan,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2025
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Revenues were guided to flat to slightly up for 2025.—
Evan Clark,
Footwear News,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In 1942, current Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) grandfather, William Newsom, steered Pat Brown’s campaign for district attorney.—
Carson Becker,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
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The relocation will steer the festival toward a new era.—
Matt Brennan,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But, like other resorts trying to navigate the new demands of wellness, there's more work to be done.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
-
If released, the brothers would reintegrate into society as men in their 50s who have spent the majority of their adult lives navigating prison.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The disorders typically manifest early in development, often before the child enters grade school, and are characterized by developmental deficits that produce impairments of personal, social, academic, or occupational functioning.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
6 Apr. 2025
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Some research has shown that babies frequently given water in the first months of life may not gain adequate weight, putting them at risk for developmental delays and nutritional deficiencies.—
Jake Parks,
Discover Magazine,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The victory tied him with franchise coaching legend Pat Riley, who owns the fourth-most victories in Knicks history.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2025
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And two: Agents like Gross are used to coaching them through this challenging process and on to a successful bid.—
Berit Thorkelson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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For the rest of the short teaser, Lord and Lady Grantham (Hugh Bonneville and Elizabeth McGovern) are shown walking around the grounds of the estate, touching bannisters and stone pillars with an air of finality.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
3 Apr. 2025
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In February 2025, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed that food prices were up 3.2% year-over-year, with food away from home rising 4.5%—a clear indicator that even fast food is being reconsidered as an occasional indulgence.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pilot.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pilot. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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