spear·head
ˈspir-ˌhed 
1
: the sharp-pointed head of a spear
2
: a leading element, force, or influence in an undertaking or development
spearheaded; spearheading; spearheads
: to serve as leader or leading element of
Examples of spearhead in a Sentence
Noun
Her book was the spearhead of the clean water movement.
Verb
She spearheaded the campaign for better schools.
The movement was spearheaded by the teachers' union.
Recent Examples on the Web
Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024
Dendrochronology dated the poles to prehistory, and excitement grew when preliminary digs unearthed fish traps, bronze swords and spearheads.
—Franz Lidz, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Over the decades, the Washington Monthly’s indefatigable and ornery spearhead was Mr. Peters, a New Deal Democrat who served in the legislature of his native West Virginia and once aspired to run the state as governor.
—Timothy R. Smith, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023
Human skulls, valuables such as a bronze spearhead, and offerings—including animal skeletons—have been found at various locations where the sun shone through the openings during the longest and shortest days of the year, according to the municipality.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 June 2023
The goal is to slow down any Ukrainian overland attack, giving Russian forces time to attack the mechanized spearheads with air and artillery.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 15 June 2023
In 2016, Suning, the Chinese retail conglomerate, paid $307 million to take a 70 percent stake in Inter, a deal that was — at the time — seen as the spearhead of China’s sudden, lavish and state-approved investment in European soccer.
—Tariq Panja, New York Times, 8 June 2023
In the first hour of D-day the first spearhead of Allied forces for the liberation of Europe landed by parachute in northern France.
—Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2023
The spearhead was DeSoto qualifying all three of its relay teams for state, which puts DeSoto in position to win its fifth consecutive state championship, winning previously between 2016 and 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020 state meet.
—Dallas News, 25 Apr. 2021
Lauren Lassabe Shepherd, The Conversation, 26 Apr. 2024
Fort Lauderdale Studio Initiative LLC, a corporation spearheaded by developer Michael Ullian, and Infinite Reality will pay for construction costs.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2024
In September, a 19-year-old also fell to his death from the cliffs, spurring a countywide effort, spearheaded by county Supervisor Laura Capps’, to improve cliff safety in the area, the Santa Barbara Independent reported.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 24 Apr. 2024
But Ruto’s new prominence on the international stage comes amid significant challenges in Kenya, including last summer’s protests against the rising cost of living and a gas-tax increase Ruto spearheaded, as well as this January’s demonstrations against allegations of judicial interference.
—Justin Worland, TIME, 17 Apr. 2024
Douglas made his first appearance as Pym in the 2015 blockbuster starring Paul Rudd as the titular superhero who has the ability to shrink down to miniature size utilizing an advancement spearheaded by Douglas' character.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2024
Prophet first joined the National Action Network (NAN) two years after its launch in 1993 and spearheaded the youth movement for the organization.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 15 Apr. 2024
The stateside collection was imbued with pragmatism and the distinctly New York idea of American sportswear, originally spearheaded by some of Mr. Dior’s American contemporaries like Claire McCardell and Bonnie Cashin.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024
James returned to start the fourth quarter and spearheaded an instant 9-0 run.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
Noun
Then came the information, from Iran’s government itself, that among the dead was the vice commander of the Quds Force, the multinational spearhead of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), along with senior officers who coordinated Iran’s activities in Syria and Lebanon.
—Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman, TIME, 9 Apr. 2024
Dendrochronology dated the poles to prehistory, and excitement grew when preliminary digs unearthed fish traps, bronze swords and spearheads.
—Franz Lidz, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Over the decades, the Washington Monthly’s indefatigable and ornery spearhead was Mr. Peters, a New Deal Democrat who served in the legislature of his native West Virginia and once aspired to run the state as governor.
—Timothy R. Smith, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023
Human skulls, valuables such as a bronze spearhead, and offerings—including animal skeletons—have been found at various locations where the sun shone through the openings during the longest and shortest days of the year, according to the municipality.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 22 June 2023
The goal is to slow down any Ukrainian overland attack, giving Russian forces time to attack the mechanized spearheads with air and artillery.
—Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 15 June 2023
In 2016, Suning, the Chinese retail conglomerate, paid $307 million to take a 70 percent stake in Inter, a deal that was — at the time — seen as the spearhead of China’s sudden, lavish and state-approved investment in European soccer.
—Tariq Panja, New York Times, 8 June 2023
In the first hour of D-day the first spearhead of Allied forces for the liberation of Europe landed by parachute in northern France.
—Merrie Monteagudo, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2023
The spearhead was DeSoto qualifying all three of its relay teams for state, which puts DeSoto in position to win its fifth consecutive state championship, winning previously between 2016 and 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the 2020 state meet.
—Dallas News, 25 Apr. 2021
Verb
Interrogations of university leaders spearheaded by conservative congressional representatives.
—Lauren Lassabe Shepherd, The Conversation, 26 Apr. 2024
Fort Lauderdale Studio Initiative LLC, a corporation spearheaded by developer Michael Ullian, and Infinite Reality will pay for construction costs.
—Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2024
In September, a 19-year-old also fell to his death from the cliffs, spurring a countywide effort, spearheaded by county Supervisor Laura Capps’, to improve cliff safety in the area, the Santa Barbara Independent reported.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 24 Apr. 2024
But Ruto’s new prominence on the international stage comes amid significant challenges in Kenya, including last summer’s protests against the rising cost of living and a gas-tax increase Ruto spearheaded, as well as this January’s demonstrations against allegations of judicial interference.
—Justin Worland, TIME, 17 Apr. 2024
Douglas made his first appearance as Pym in the 2015 blockbuster starring Paul Rudd as the titular superhero who has the ability to shrink down to miniature size utilizing an advancement spearheaded by Douglas' character.
—Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2024
Prophet first joined the National Action Network (NAN) two years after its launch in 1993 and spearheaded the youth movement for the organization.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 15 Apr. 2024
The stateside collection was imbued with pragmatism and the distinctly New York idea of American sportswear, originally spearheaded by some of Mr. Dior’s American contemporaries like Claire McCardell and Bonnie Cashin.
—José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 15 Apr. 2024
James returned to start the fourth quarter and spearheaded an instant 9-0 run.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spearhead.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near spearhead
Cite this Entry
“Spearhead.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spearhead. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
spearhead
1 of 2 noun
spear·head
-ˌhed
1
: the head or point of a spear
2
: a person, thing, or group that is the leading force (as in a development or attack)
spearhead
2 of 2 verb
: to serve as leader of
spearhead a campaign for better schools
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