leading lights
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Leading lights are the most prominent or influential people in a particular field or group—those who guide others by example or reputation: She was one of the leading lights of the civil rights movement.
The phrase evokes navigation lights that guide ships into harbor.
A leading light may also be someone's personal guide or inspiration: My grandmother was the leading light of my childhood.
Distinguished influential people
- iconsRepresentative small images
- paragonsPerfect examples of something
- role modelsPeople others emulate
- standard-bearersLeaders representing a cause
beacons · torchbearers · guiding stars · vanguards · trailblazers · champions · masters · virtuosos
Influential experts shaping discourse
- tastemakersThose shaping popular preferences
- power brokersHidden political influencers
- kingmakersThose who decide leadership
- movers and shakersInfluential, powerful people
changemakers · heavyweights · powerhouses · key players · prime movers · driving forces · catalysts · figureheads
First to explore territory
- visionariesThose who anticipate change
- inventorsCreators of new devices
- foundersThose who begin institutions
- groundbreakersInnovators who start trends
originators · innovators · disruptors · revolutionaries · avant-garde · first movers · early adopters · game changers
luminaries
Distinguished influential people
- iconsRepresentative small images
- paragonsPerfect examples of something
- role modelsPeople others emulate
standard-bearers · beacons · torchbearers · guiding stars · vanguards · trailblazers · champions · masters · virtuosos · doyens
thought leaders
Influential experts shaping discourse
- tastemakersThose shaping popular preferences
- power brokersHidden political influencers
- kingmakersThose who decide leadership
movers and shakers · changemakers · heavyweights · powerhouses · key players · prime movers · driving forces · catalysts · figureheads · decision makers
pioneers
First to explore territory
- visionariesThose who anticipate change
- inventorsCreators of new devices
- foundersThose who begin institutions
groundbreakers · originators · innovators · disruptors · revolutionaries · avant-garde · first movers · early adopters · game changers · mavericks
guides
Those who show directions
mentors · counselors · gurus · sages · sensei · preceptors · elders · sponsors · patrons · shepherds
- maritime lightslighthouse, lightship, channel marker, buoy
- navigation aidscompass, maps, road signs, signs, GPS
- port navigationharbor pilot, pilot boat, channel marker, buoy, buoys
- lighthouse signalslantern, fresnel lens
- navigationcompass, compass rose, signs, charts, navbar
- UK Coastal FeaturesLand's End, Dungeness
leading lightsnobodies
Unimportant, unknown persons
unknowns · nonentities · also-rans · bit players · small fry
leading lightsfollowers
People who support someone
hangers-on · laggards · stragglers · dead weight · obstructionists
leading lightsfollowers
People who support someone
hangers-on · camp followers · yes-men · sheep · acolytes
light, lead, leader, leading, beacon, leadership, mislead, lights, leads