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
The demonstrators who remained were lined up outside the building as officers zip-tied their hands behind their backs and loaded them into vans.
—
Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
The vans serve about 190 students, many of whom rely on strict daily routines.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
The seconds that followed — Morrison stepped forward, the van drove ahead — led to a criminally negligent homicide charge this week against the driver of the van, Oscar Pedrozo, and to decidedly different views over whether the charge is warranted.
—Dan Morse, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2026
All five killed were in the van, Stone County Coroner Wayne Flurry said.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for van
Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2026
The vans serve about 190 students, many of whom rely on strict daily routines.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
The seconds that followed — Morrison stepped forward, the van drove ahead — led to a criminally negligent homicide charge this week against the driver of the van, Oscar Pedrozo, and to decidedly different views over whether the charge is warranted.
—Dan Morse, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2026
All five killed were in the van, Stone County Coroner Wayne Flurry said.
—ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for van
Recent Examples of Synonyms for van
Noun
-
As the old vanguard of civil rights leaders pass, who will fill the void?—
Brittany Luse,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The once-insurgent vanguards who cast their first votes for Barack Obama have relinquished their cool factor to Gen Z, who will one day undergo the same process themselves as time continues its relentless march forward.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Idaho has been at the forefront of legislation that targets trans people in recent years.—
Becca Savransky,
Idaho Statesman,
1 Apr. 2026
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Companies such as Tesla, Rivian and Lucid Motors are at the forefront of building these kinds of connected vehicles outside of China.—
Robert Ferris,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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After conquering the internet underground, perhaps Yeat believes that stadium status is all that’s left.—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
31 Mar. 2026
-
His father was forged by years of revolutionary hardship—prison, persecution, life underground—before coming to power and reportedly amassing a war chest exceeding $100 billion, built in part from properties confiscated from religious minorities who fled persecution.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Long before federal regulations existed, the couple hosted the very first meeting to form the National Organic Standards Board right there at their ranch, gathering with other pioneers like the Lundberg family to create a unified standard.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Apollo's acquisition came after Verizon Communications bought Yahoo's online operations in 2017 and then bungled an attempt to blend those services into AOL, another internet pioneer.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/van. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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