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

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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 Ebicos The Happy Dreamer is designed to work with some of the European market's leading midsize and small vans of present and past, including the Volkswagen Transporter, Volkswagen Caddy, Ford Transit Custom and Peugeot Partner. — New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026 Diesel is the fuel most likely to be used by commercial trucks and is also used by some SUVs, pickups and vans. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026 Up and down the street, cars were burning — police cars, trucks, buses, postal vans, delivery vans, even a fire engine. — Peter Wilkinson, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026 Would Jesus be throwing people into vans and separating them from their children? — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 10 Sep. 2026 We are treated to scenes of Day and Woods bickering over their contrasting approaches to live performance and conflict resolution in vans and backrooms, sometimes moments before they’re set to take the stage. — Marlow Stern, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026 Advocates argue carts are silent, occupy less space than tourist vans and buses, and don’t choke the air with exhaust that also stains historic monuments. — ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026 The company recently raised its delivery outlook for the year from as low as 62,000 vehicles to as many as 70,000 due to demand, and said Amazon now has 40,000 Rivian electric delivery vans. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 In New York City, for instance, pedestrians remain far more likely to be hurt or die in encounters with cars, trucks, or vans. — Paula Span, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vans

Noun

The great technological leaps in American history have often featured influential industrialists who step forward as vanguards, leading the way to a better tomorrow while emerging as major players in extreme endeavors.

— Jeff Spry, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026
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

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

Government reinforcements have also been sent toward Lahj and Abyan, also in the southwest, and to the front lines near Houthi positions, as well as toward the strategic western Red Sea coast, most of which is now under Houthi control.

— Khaled Wassef, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
Specifically recognized were the librarians behind The Librarians, a documentary about the public workers on the front lines of the fight against book bans.

— Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 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