1
as in vanguard
the innovators of new concepts, styles, and techniques especially in the arts
an artist who was in the van of abstract expressionism
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forefront
the leading or most important part of a movement
a company that is considered by some to be in the van of the latest technology for renewable energy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of van
And in the blink of an eye, vans and SUVs full of FBI agents and members of the California National Guard’s Weapons of Mass Destruction support team arrived and cordoned off the property.
—
Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
Two van-loads, four carloads and a whole team of volunteers transported the hefty amount of donations.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
Britani took it out in the van, and she was eaten alive!
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 11 June 2026
After the arrests, children in her van became frightened and initially refused to get out.
—Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for van
Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
Two van-loads, four carloads and a whole team of volunteers transported the hefty amount of donations.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2026
Britani took it out in the van, and she was eaten alive!
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 11 June 2026
After the arrests, children in her van became frightened and initially refused to get out.
—Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 11 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for van
Recent Examples of Synonyms for van
Noun
-
If experimental and vanguard poetry is set on fragmenting the lyric I, verse plays and poet’s theater redistribute it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
Most notably, the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Lab or CSAIL, directed capably by my colleague Daniela Rus, is in there, where intrepid teams work on such vanguard projects as liquid AI models.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
With the passing of an ordinance related to e-bike usage, Penn Township becomes the latest municipality in the Pittsburgh area to bring the topic to the forefront of discussion.—
Mike Darnay,
CBS News,
18 June 2026
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In Starman, Tom Adams is an architect of the future who launches a historic expedition to Mars, positioning himself at the forefront of humanity’s next great frontier.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
18 June 2026
Noun
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At its core, arguments are swirling over how much of the White House project is to bolster security underground, with bomb shelters and a medical facility, and how much of the costs are related to the president’s promised 999-seat ballroom on top.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
-
Stinging insects have nested in a wall or underground.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
According to Baseball Almanac, former Yankees pitcher, collegiate standout and Olympic baseball pioneer Al Closter has died at the age of 84.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
Begue’s family bought land around Tujunga and La Crescenta in 1882, and later, Begue was an early pioneer and one of the first forest rangers in what would later become Angeles National Forest.—
Jaclyn Cosgrove,
Los Angeles Times,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/van. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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