The phrase "was one of" is common in writing and speech, indicating that something or someone is part of a larger group or category. However, there are many synonyms that can be used instead to vary sentence structure and style. Some examples include "belonged to," "was a member of," "marked as," "falling within," "included in," and "participated in." In addition to increasing variety in language, using synonyms for "was one of" can also help to convey different levels of importance or significance. For instance, "ranked among" emphasizes the high status of the subject, while "comprised" suggests a larger group or set.