VANS Synonyms: 15 Similar and Opposite Words

vans

noun

plural of van

as in vanguards

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in forefronts

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

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 vans In recent years, farmers began using passenger vans with seats and seat belts for 10 or 12 workers, said Dean Okimoto, chief of operations for Nalo Farms. — ABC News, 23 July 2026 Utilizing 9-16 seat autonomous vans, Vansit detects groups sharing travel routes. — Brad Templeton, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026 Unfortunately, many of the best 4x4 camper vans will require you to squeeze those aching limbs into an undersized bed at night. — New Atlas, 21 July 2026 Feng remains slightly more optimistic for new energy vehicles (NEVs) such as electric and hybrid cars and vans, seeing NEV sales declining 5% to 6% year-on-year. — Matthew Tan,evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 20 July 2026 With fewer international visitors to cater to, the atmosphere is easygoing and laid-back; no black transfer vans or aspiring DJs here. — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 17 July 2026 To diagnose those sticky tasks and peddle its tools, Snap-on relies on thousands of franchisees, who make weekly visits to nearly a million neighborhood mechanics in custom company vans. — Scott Horsley, NPR, 17 July 2026 About $3,000 in transportation costs for passenger vans and drivers had to be written off as well. — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026 On Sunday night, after the Washington Nationals wrapped up the first half of the season, James Wood and CJ Abrams waved goodbye to their teammates and got in twin sprinter vans to make the journey up Interstate 95 to Philadelphia. — Danielle Allentuck, Washington Post, 14 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vans

Noun

The once-insurgent vanguards who cast their first votes for Barack Obama have relinquished their cool factor to Gen Z, who will one day undergo the same process themselves as time continues its relentless march forward.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
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

Definition of vanguards

Noun

One of the real forefronts in the field right now is figuring out how to solve the delivery problem for all these other tissue types.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 11 June 2026
Coworth forefronts its equestrian roots, with stables on site as well as polo fields.

— Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Feb. 2026

Definition of forefronts

Noun

This program, run by the National Advanced Mobility Consortium (NAMC), focuses on creating robots that can deliver supplies in dangerous areas and help keep soldiers safer near the front lines.

— Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 24 July 2026
The new commander, Drapatyi, fought across the war’s toughest front lines, and video was even recycled on his appointment on Tuesday of him driving an armored personnel carrier through a pro-Russian separatist barricade in 2014.

— Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Definition of front lines

Noun

The company will evaluate applications for nose cones, fins, leading edges, bulkheads, and other high-performance structures that require precision and durability.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 22 June 2026
Traveling over five times the speed of sound generates immense friction and drag, resulting in the leading edges reaching temperatures beyond 1,650 °C (3,000 °F).

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Dec. 2025