1
as in pioneers
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 forefronts
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of vanguards
The San Francisco 49ers, vanguards of the outside zone run game, cannot run the ball.
—
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
He’s so far collaborated with acts like Ecco2k and Xaviersobased, themselves vanguards of the underground-rap scene.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
He’s so far collaborated with acts like Ecco2k and Xaviersobased, themselves vanguards of the underground-rap scene.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanguards
pioneers
Noun
-
The Swiss start-up FinalSpark is one of the pioneers in this field.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
20 Oct. 2025
-
D’Angelo found power in this duality, smashing the barriers between the spiritual and the secular, as had so many Black music pioneers before him.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Vanguards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanguards. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share