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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vanguards
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
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
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
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
Noun
-
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
-
The musician was born in Los Angeles and was a third-generation creative; his grandparents Boris and Bessie Thomashefsky were pioneers of Yiddish theater, while his dad Ted Thomas was a producer at the Mercury Theater Company in New York.—
Rachel DeSantis,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Coworth forefronts its equestrian roots, with stables on site as well as polo fields.—
Lydia Bell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vanguards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanguards. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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