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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of vans
Police vans behind a temporary metal fence secured the road to the athletes’ village, but the protesters veered away, continuing their apparent route toward the Santagiulia venue.
—
Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Swarms of cars and vans come and go from both sides; idling buses advertise destinations as far-flung as Lima or Santiago or Mendoza.
—Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Police vans behind a temporary metal fence secured the road to the athletes’ village, but the protest veered away, continuing on a trajectory toward the Santagiulia venue.
—Colleen Barry, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Demonstrators later targeted police vans with additional fireworks.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Officers then moved in on the nurses who did not give way, zip-tied their hands and led them to waiting police vans.
—Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
New passenger cars qualify only if priced at or below $55,000, while vans, SUVs and pickup trucks are capped at $80,000.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
That is when a man with a gun approached Ray while his two accomplices ordered all of the children off the bus and into two waiting vans.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
And London’s roads aren’t just used by cars, vans and trucks.
—Laurie Winkless, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 8 Feb. 2026
Swarms of cars and vans come and go from both sides; idling buses advertise destinations as far-flung as Lima or Santiago or Mendoza.
—Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 7 Feb. 2026
Police vans behind a temporary metal fence secured the road to the athletes’ village, but the protest veered away, continuing on a trajectory toward the Santagiulia venue.
—Colleen Barry, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026
Demonstrators later targeted police vans with additional fireworks.
—Antonia Mortensen, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Officers then moved in on the nurses who did not give way, zip-tied their hands and led them to waiting police vans.
—Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
New passenger cars qualify only if priced at or below $55,000, while vans, SUVs and pickup trucks are capped at $80,000.
—Calmatters, Oc Register, 5 Feb. 2026
That is when a man with a gun approached Ray while his two accomplices ordered all of the children off the bus and into two waiting vans.
—Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026
And London’s roads aren’t just used by cars, vans and trucks.
—Laurie Winkless, Forbes.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for vans
Noun
-
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
Noun
-
Coworth forefronts its equestrian roots, with stables on site as well as polo fields.—
Lydia Bell,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This is a lot to ask of a feral brigade of extremely bright, wealthy, and sleepless twentysomethings dispatched to the front lines of an arms race that their bosses started.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The scale of the war effort had necessitated the creation of a health infrastructure on American soil—spraying for mosquitoes near the front lines in the Pacific wouldn’t mean anything if soldiers caught malaria at home before deployment.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
So it was decreed that the cutting edges of knives should be turned towards their owners, thus symbolizing their peaceful intent.—
Judith Martin,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Vans.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/vans. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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