pathways

noun

plural of pathway
1
as in paths
a rough course or way formed by or as if by repeated footsteps we parked our car near a rambling pathway that led down to the pond

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in routes
the direction along which something or someone moves the long, winding pathway of the river before it meets the sea

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 pathways In the battery, the coated ceramic particles interact with the surrounding polymer chains and create interconnected pathways that allow lithium ions to travel more efficiently. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026 For example, if someone is trying to relearn how to walk, practicing every day can help build those pathways. — Connie Etermadi, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Students can explore pathways in agricultural business, agricultural science, animal science, forestry and natural resources, ornamental horticulture, plant and soil science, agricultural technologies and advancements, and agricultural mechanics. — Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Golf carts dart around the island to drop guests at various outlets, but pathways are sandy, and there are steps to most of the restaurants, though beach rooms are all at floor level. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026 Signage throughout the pathways feature educational content and trivia about American history. — Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026 Niccol has also committed to fill 90% of leadership roles from within the ranks, providing tangible pathways of career progression for the best frontline employees. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026 Naperville Central Principal Jackie Thornton said an increasing number of students have completed career pathways endorsements, which are focused courses of study. — Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026 Cars that poke out too far and obstruct pedestrian pathways are technically in violation of federal law, Assistant City Attorney Lisa Flowers told the council. — Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 24 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pathways
  1. paths
  2. routes
  3. trails
  4. ways
  5. footpaths
  6. trajectories
Noun
  • Or stay amid the woods at Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa, where amenities and activities include yard games, bike paths, archery, and s’mores as well as special seasonal fun.
    — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In early April, a convoy of 299 Iraqi fuel tankers crossed into Syria on its way to the Mediterranean port of Baniyas, one of the few remaining paths to international markets amid the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of paths
Noun
  • That can mean choosing a better location for construction, alternate routes, backup power, improved early warning and financial tools such as insurance to speed recovery, Narasimhan said.
    — Victoria Milko, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Major transit routes through the country closed entirely as the state fragmented into competing zones of control.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of routes
Noun
  • There’s no reputable research showing that dry cornstarch reliably disrupts ant pheromone trails in real-world garden conditions.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The property’s concierges, called Pathfinders, can help guests narrow down the best places to see fall foliage, from scenic drives through Grand Tetons to hiking trails lined with golden aspens.
    — Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of trails
Noun
  • Although not quite as polished on the racial politics front, Lanterns’s third episode is no less intriguing, as an hour of television dedicated not only to answering pressing questions but fleshing out its lead character in disturbing ways.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026
  • OpenAI's investigation, released this week, went considerably further, describing agents that found unauthorized ways to communicate, collaborate and delegate work while attempting to accomplish their objectives.
    — Emil Sayegh, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of ways
Noun
  • According to the National Park Service, the footpaths through the forested ridgetops of Pennsylvania are among the most popular.
    — Idra Novey, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 July 2026
  • Eschewing fences and pavement in favor of natural footpaths lined with brambles and shrubs, these slender pathways provide epic sea views while leaving the ancestral homes of other animals intact.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 June 2026
Definition of footpaths
Noun
  • That would, in turn, enable them to constantly search for drones, low-flying warplanes, and even cruise missiles flying in unpredictable trajectories.
    — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • With the married couple of Robert and Camille Sims careening off onto very different moral trajectories, Camille must confront troubling truths as her conscience plummets into the pits of Hades, while Robert is on a profound journey of salvation.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of trajectories

Browse Nearby Words

pathway
pathways
patience
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pathways.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pathways. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All