Forty-niners is a term that was used to describe individuals who migrated to California in search of gold during the Gold Rush era of 1849. However, there are other synonyms that can be used for this group of people. Some of the synonyms include gold rushers, prospectors, gold miners, and gold seekers. These terms reflect the fact that these individuals were in search of the precious metal, and were willing to endure hardships and challenges to find it. As such, these terms are useful alternatives to the term forty-niners when describing this unique group of pioneers who shaped the history of California.