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
In the 1950s, the Eisenhower administration decided that the transportation vanguard was off the tracks, creating — and, critically, continuously funding — the interstate highway system, fueling the world's proudest car culture.
—
Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
As the old vanguard of civil rights leaders pass, who will fill the void?
—Brittany Luse, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026
Founded in 2010, Big Health, which makes cognitive behavioral therapy apps to treat anxiety and insomnia, was among the original vanguard of digital therapeutics companies.
—Mario Aguilar, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
One of the year’s buzziest debuts so far comes from Xaviersobased, a 22-year-old musician who’s part of a vanguard of digital-native artists whose music is at once informed by the 2010s (Xavier’s name is a nod to millennial rap entity Lil B the BasedGod) and entirely of the moment.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vanguard
Jon Wertheim, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026
As the old vanguard of civil rights leaders pass, who will fill the void?
—Brittany Luse, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026
Founded in 2010, Big Health, which makes cognitive behavioral therapy apps to treat anxiety and insomnia, was among the original vanguard of digital therapeutics companies.
—Mario Aguilar, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
One of the year’s buzziest debuts so far comes from Xaviersobased, a 22-year-old musician who’s part of a vanguard of digital-native artists whose music is at once informed by the 2010s (Xavier’s name is a nod to millennial rap entity Lil B the BasedGod) and entirely of the moment.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 8 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vanguard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanguard
Noun
-
Across the cage stood MMA pioneer Gina Carano, the original mainstream face of women’s MMA and the opponent fans spent years fantasy-booking against Rousey during the peak of both careers.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 May 2026
-
Ben Johnson’s Bears are pioneers in the field of loopy comebacks.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
Noun
-
Producers Pippa Harris and Danny Perkins‘ journey to adapting Enid Blyton’s classic The Magic Faraway Tree Series was at the forefront of this trend.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
14 May 2026
-
Weightless drama brings sheer layers and kinetic textures to the forefront with drama by utilizing delicate trims and soft frill details.—
Kanika Talwar,
Footwear News,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Zayd Ayers Dohrn spent much of his childhood underground and on the run.—
Terry Gross,
NPR,
18 May 2026
-
Though many people come to far West Texas for its isolation—the Unabomber’s slightly less reclusive brother did a stint here in the eighties, living at first in a crude underground shelter—Miller said that immigration-enforcement agents have been an intrusive presence for many years.—
Rachel Monroe,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
The show, which featured a sizzling performance by Walton Goggins, as an authoritarian vigilante, was an avant-garde breakthrough for television.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
Tezuka 100th Anniversary Project The Book of Human Insects, directed by Ken Ninomiya, celebrating one of most avant-garde works of the ‘God of Manga’ Osamu Tezuka.—
Liz Shackleton,
Deadline,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vanguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanguard. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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