1
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vans
The Nightlight program is new in Hartford this spring and through it, congregation members collect items for the homeless months ahead of time and then pack up vans and distribute these items to those in need.
—
Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026
Blue skies extended to the horizon, and a small colony of tents, camper vans and motorhomes sprawled out across the lush alfalfa fields.
—CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Smaller delivery vehicles, including cars, vans and bikes are exempt, the mayor's office said.
—Mark Prussin, CBS News, 13 June 2026
And in the blink of an eye, vans and SUVs full of FBI agents and members of the California National Guard’s Weapons of Mass Destruction support team arrived and cordoned off the property.
—Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
So it’s- mostly our our vans, which are like a a service station inside of a van.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 10 June 2026
Blue skies extended to the horizon, and a small colony of tents, camper vans and motorhomes sprawled out across the lush alfalfa fields.
—Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 9 June 2026
Other kinds of teams across the country are connected to this constantly improving information system too, and not just in vans.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026
The Paragon is priced more in line with Sprinter adventure camper vans than other expedition trucks.
—New Atlas, 4 June 2026
Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 15 June 2026
Blue skies extended to the horizon, and a small colony of tents, camper vans and motorhomes sprawled out across the lush alfalfa fields.
—CNN Money, 14 June 2026
Smaller delivery vehicles, including cars, vans and bikes are exempt, the mayor's office said.
—Mark Prussin, CBS News, 13 June 2026
And in the blink of an eye, vans and SUVs full of FBI agents and members of the California National Guard’s Weapons of Mass Destruction support team arrived and cordoned off the property.
—Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
So it’s- mostly our our vans, which are like a a service station inside of a van.
—Joel Feder, The Drive, 10 June 2026
Blue skies extended to the horizon, and a small colony of tents, camper vans and motorhomes sprawled out across the lush alfalfa fields.
—Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 9 June 2026
Other kinds of teams across the country are connected to this constantly improving information system too, and not just in vans.
—Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 June 2026
The Paragon is priced more in line with Sprinter adventure camper vans than other expedition trucks.
—New Atlas, 4 June 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
Noun
-
The engineering team pushed the technology to its limits, conducting roughly 1,000 rigorous welding experiments to fine-tune the AI before clearing it for the front lines of manufacturing.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
15 June 2026
-
The front lines have turned into a proverbial meat grinder of cutting-edge drone warfare and precision strikes.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
According to the report, the CH-7 incorporates radar-absorbing structures in high-reflectivity areas, such as leading edges, stealth coatings across its surface, and low-observable treatments for access panels, landing gear bays, and internal compartments.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Dec. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
But over time, the cutting edges on a drill bit will wear down, causing materials start to splinter, leading to chipped wood or damaged walls.—
Timothy Dale,
The Spruce,
5 June 2026
-
Surprisingly, it was found that stingers use a distinct layering of zinc at the tip, followed by manganese, while pincers are reinforced with zinc and iron specifically along their cutting edges.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vans. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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