VANGUARDS Synonyms: 15 Similar and Opposite Words

vanguards

noun

plural of vanguard

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 vanguards 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for vanguards

Noun

But it was then followed up by a Spanish hymn, sung by musicians, dressed in 18th-century Spanish Colonial attire, including the garb of soldado, vaquero, pioneers, military, and indigenous peoples.

— Brian Hackney, CBS News, 30 June 2026
As of January 2026, that federal evaluation included 17 UTM service providers and operators, a sign the framework is moving from two pioneers to an industry-wide layer.

— John Koetsier, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

Definition of pioneers

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

Browse Nearby Words

vanguard

vanguards

vanilla

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Vanguards.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vanguards. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of vanguards

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on vanguards

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

perfunctory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes