spearheading

verb

present participle of spearhead
as in leading
to serve as leader of unofficially at least, Martin Luther King spearheaded the civil rights movement

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of spearheading Earric Lee, a postdoctoral researcher at the Montreal Heart Institute who's spearheading the initiative, says scientists first need to agree on standards. — Will Stone, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026 Line of Duty showrunner Jed Mercurio is spearheading a pitch from Hat Trick Mercurio, while STV Studios, the production group behind Blue Lights and Criminal Record, has made an audacious bid to move the show to Scotland for Season 17. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 8 Oct. 2026 Xavier Becerra, the Democratic nominee for California governor, is spearheading the opposition campaign to Proposition 39 in coordination with the American Civil Liberties Union and the California Donor Table. — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 7 Oct. 2026 Its tasks included spearheading a biannual report in partnership with Florida International University examining data on education, economic and health factors affecting Broward residents. — Zoey Thomas, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026 This unusual telescope is the brainchild of Francis Halzen, recipient of the 2026 Nobel Prize in physics for his work spearheading this project and discovering high-energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin. — Tyce Deyoung, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026 The deal involves Regeneron taking the lead on research and development, with Sanofi spearheading commercial efforts. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026 As for Canada, International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu spent his time huddling with other counterparts, since a different official is spearheading negotiations with Greer amid the countries’ escalating trade war. — Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Heed was born out of a close collaboration between Rossinavi and the owner, with Alberto Mancini spearheading exterior design and Achille Salvagni executing the interiors. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spearheading
  1. leading
  2. commanding
Verb
  • With the status of leading rusher Jeremy Payne up in the air, TCU will have to lean more into this offensive identity to support a defense and special teams unit playing at such an elite level.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI has reportedly floated the idea of giving the government up to a 5% stake in the company and suggested other leading AI companies do the same.
    — Sarah Cannon, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of leading
Verb
  • Thomas capped the half with a 20-yard touchdown run in the final seconds, giving the Yellow Jackets three touchdowns in less than three minutes and a commanding 64-0 halftime lead.
    — Aliza Acuna, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Oct. 2026
  • ChatGPT is the most popular chatbot in the world, commanding nearly half the American marketplace, states said in their lawsuits.
    — Marc Levy, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of commanding

Browse Nearby Words

spearheaded
spearheading
spearheads
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Cite this Entry

“Spearheading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spearheading. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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