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
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Recent Examples of vanguards
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
That may have been a heavy expectation, but she’s clearly evolved into one of its vanguards.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2025
The San Francisco 49ers, vanguards of the outside zone run game, cannot run the ball.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
Lara Walsh, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
That may have been a heavy expectation, but she’s clearly evolved into one of its vanguards.
—Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 21 Dec. 2025
The San Francisco 49ers, vanguards of the outside zone run game, cannot run the ball.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanguards
pioneers
Noun
-
In the early morning hours in 1959, a small airplane carrying early rock pioneers Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens crashed in a frozen Iowa cornfield, killing all on board.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Before the game, Brown gave a speech to the crowd while accompanied by family members of the three pioneers.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vanguards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanguards. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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