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
Joseph somersaulting himself into a trash bag is both stealthier than Dale’s instinct to drive off in the highly recognizable Dale’s Dead Bug van and a great visual gag.
—
Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2025
Just before sunrise, a small group of newsmen slid into combat fatigues and safari jackets before slipping through the waking city in a convoy of vans and rental cars.
—Gary Knight, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2025
The latest mileage targets set under the Biden administration required automakers to get to an average of about 50 miles per gallon for light-duty vehicles by model year 2031, and about 35 miles per gallon for pickups and vans by model year 2035.
—Alexa St. John, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
Williams borrowed a van and Johnson and the teenager donned masks and carried guns when the three set out to commit the robbery, according to complaints filed against the two adults.
—Ariela Lopez, jsonline.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for van
Genevieve Koski, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2025
Just before sunrise, a small group of newsmen slid into combat fatigues and safari jackets before slipping through the waking city in a convoy of vans and rental cars.
—Gary Knight, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2025
The latest mileage targets set under the Biden administration required automakers to get to an average of about 50 miles per gallon for light-duty vehicles by model year 2031, and about 35 miles per gallon for pickups and vans by model year 2035.
—Alexa St. John, Chicago Tribune, 1 Aug. 2025
Williams borrowed a van and Johnson and the teenager donned masks and carried guns when the three set out to commit the robbery, according to complaints filed against the two adults.
—Ariela Lopez, jsonline.com, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for van
Recent Examples of Synonyms for van
Noun
-
This wine style has been trending amongst the wine set for a few years now, and King is joining the next vanguard of unofficial ambassadors.—
Elizabeth Wellington,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Since its founding in 1913 at Howard University, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. has stood as a vanguard of leadership, scholarship, and public service.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
Modern horror is at the forefront of political movements and are the fables of our time.—
American Booksellers Association,
USA Today,
23 Aug. 2025
-
Chelsea and Villa have already broken UEFA rules recently, so the need to have them at the forefront of their thinking during the window is obvious.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The speaker system—designed in part by Shepherd and Tom Smith, co-founder of the famed underground Cosmic Slop party in Leeds—was meant to reference the disco setups at New York’s Paradise Garage and sub-heavy sound systems of Jamaica.—
Jeremy D. Larson,
Pitchfork,
14 Aug. 2025
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Her family, which owns the oil and gas underground, received a percentage of the revenue generated from the company’s sale of the minerals, called a royalty.—
Jacob Orledge,
ProPublica,
4 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
More than a pioneer in tennis, Gibson was a jazz singer, actress, educator, professional golfer, and author.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
23 Aug. 2025
-
The first agency to start the program was Chula Vista, a pioneer in the arena.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Van.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/van. Accessed 26 Aug. 2025.
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