1
as in pioneer
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 forefront
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 vanguard
Founded in 2010, Big Health, which makes cognitive behavioral therapy apps to treat anxiety and insomnia, was among the original vanguard of digital therapeutics companies.
—
Mario Aguilar, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
One of the year’s buzziest debuts so far comes from Xaviersobased, a 22-year-old musician who’s part of a vanguard of digital-native artists whose music is at once informed by the 2010s (Xavier’s name is a nod to millennial rap entity Lil B the BasedGod) and entirely of the moment.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 8 Feb. 2026
China’s presumptive position at AI’s vanguard marks a seismic shift.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
As in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, Minneapolis has seen a layered civic uprising where a vanguard of protesters has gained strength as many others who don’t share progressive convictions joined in feeling, if not always in person.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vanguard
Mario Aguilar, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
One of the year’s buzziest debuts so far comes from Xaviersobased, a 22-year-old musician who’s part of a vanguard of digital-native artists whose music is at once informed by the 2010s (Xavier’s name is a nod to millennial rap entity Lil B the BasedGod) and entirely of the moment.
—Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 8 Feb. 2026
China’s presumptive position at AI’s vanguard marks a seismic shift.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 27 Jan. 2026
As in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, Minneapolis has seen a layered civic uprising where a vanguard of protesters has gained strength as many others who don’t share progressive convictions joined in feeling, if not always in person.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for vanguard
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanguard
Noun
-
Even the pioneers of AI will tell you, Stassun said, in many cases, what AI does very well is rapidly synthesizing, consolidating or repackaging existing information.—
National Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Commissioners McSlavkin and Ella Cross both questioned a historical mural in the tunnel, which includes controversial pioneers John Sutter and Peter Burnett, during the meeting.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But with the lottery alterations, trades and free agency again will return to a forefront that allowed the Heat to return to the forefront for the majority of these three decades of Riley rule.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Sea otter mentorship is at the forefront of a formal partnership between the Aquarium of the Pacific and Monterey Bay Aquarium, which has been rehabilitating sea otters since the 1980s, according to Long.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This plant is intended to store large quantities of hydrogen underground.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Earlier this year, the group released a cypher, positioning ØWay as a prominent collective from Atlanta’s underground.—
Oba Awolowo,
Pitchfork,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Defense tech adopts the countercultural posture of the avant-garde to shape the reception of military innovation.—
Simon Denny,
Artforum,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Since the 1970s, Bulgari’s design language has been defined by the avant-garde with its combination of precious gold with stainless steel.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
20 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vanguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanguard. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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