1
as in pioneer
the innovators of new concepts, styles, and techniques especially in the arts
a style of jazz that the vanguard quickly recognized as new and exciting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in forefront
the leading or most important part of a movement
talk radio is often regarded as being in the vanguard of the conservative movement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vanguard
Hochman said the state’s DUI laws, considered among the nation’s vanguard four decades ago, have since lagged behind to become some of the nation's weakest.
—
Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Pants-optional dressing was arguably the biggest fashion trend of 2025, with celebrity style vanguards like Heidi Klum, Gisele Bündchen, and Sydney Sweeney opting to leave their pants at home in favor of cheeky outfits—and Eva Longoria is getting on the pantsless bandwagon.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
More specifically, its vanguard advertising around athletes themselves.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 11 Dec. 2025
India’s new corporate vanguard Increasingly, many of these centers are leading efforts on product engineering, AI model development, and automation strategy — co-owning innovation and intellectual property in the process.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vanguard
Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
Pants-optional dressing was arguably the biggest fashion trend of 2025, with celebrity style vanguards like Heidi Klum, Gisele Bündchen, and Sydney Sweeney opting to leave their pants at home in favor of cheeky outfits—and Eva Longoria is getting on the pantsless bandwagon.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
More specifically, its vanguard advertising around athletes themselves.
—Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 11 Dec. 2025
India’s new corporate vanguard Increasingly, many of these centers are leading efforts on product engineering, AI model development, and automation strategy — co-owning innovation and intellectual property in the process.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vanguard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanguard
Noun
-
Ivy Queen Reggaeton icon and pioneer Ivy Queen has performed with Bad Bunny on multiple occasions, with the rapper crediting the Queen of Reggaeton as a major inspiration.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
8 Feb. 2026
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Along with coaches George Halas, Clark Shaughnessy, and Ralph Jones, Luckman was a pioneer in the T Formation motion, with three running backs lined up behind the quarterback and a man shifting laterally and behind the line of scrimmage.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The agency is at the forefront of Israel’s battle against Hamas and other Palestinian militant groups.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
In the short term, Kennard provides extra length for a team looking to spread the floor with Luca Doncic and LeBron James at the forefront.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Pres, a veteran of the East Coast underground, became familiar with Gabe after hearing him rip a verse on billy woods’ 2022 album, Aethiopes.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The beauty of a fire underground is that heat rises.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Long a collectors’ holy grail, this searching, atmospheric soundtrack recorded for Chicago’s Adler Planetarium in 1993 mixes spiritual jazz with avant-garde pan-Africanism.—
Mark Richardson,
Pitchfork,
3 Feb. 2026
-
However, upon closer inspection, the dress hides an unexpected hidden detail in the form of avant-garde metalwork at the end of each spaghetti strap.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vanguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanguard. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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