vanguards
Leaders of change
Vanguards is the plural of vanguard—the foremost part of an advancing group, especially a military force.
More often, vanguard refers to those leading a movement or trend: the vanguards of the civil rights movement, technological vanguards reshaping the industry.
The word implies being ahead of the mainstream, pioneering rather than following.
Information gatherers ahead
- front lineCombat's forward edge
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- spearheadLead an effort
- patrolRegular surveillance route
outriders · point men · flankers · skirmishers · trailblazers · pathfinders · expeditionary · shock troops
First to explore territory
- trailblazersThose who open territory
- groundbreakersInnovators who start trends
- innovatorsCreators of novel things
- visionariesThose who anticipate change
early adopters · disruptors · trendsetters · revolutionaries · mavericks · thought leaders · cutting-edge · breakthroughs
Those seeking systemic overthrow
- activistsPeople working for causes
- reformersAdvocates for institutional improvement
- dissidentsPolitical objectors
- radicalsAdvocates for fundamental change
agitators · organizers · movements · ideologues · progressives · liberation · resistance · cadres
Advocates of contemporary approaches
- experimentalistsThose conducting trials
- movementsChanges in position
- manifestosPublic declarations of principles
- DadaistsAbsurdist art movement members
Bauhaus · abstract · radical · provocateurs · unconventional · boundary-pushing · counterculture · underground
scouts
Information gatherers ahead
- front lineCombat's forward edge
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- spearheadLead an effort
patrol · outriders · point men · flankers · skirmishers · trailblazers · pathfinders · expeditionary · shock troops · first wave
pioneers
First to explore territory
- trailblazersThose who open territory
- groundbreakersInnovators who start trends
- innovatorsCreators of novel things
visionaries · early adopters · disruptors · trendsetters · revolutionaries · mavericks · thought leaders · cutting-edge · breakthroughs · startups
revolutionaries
Those seeking systemic overthrow
- activistsPeople working for causes
- reformersAdvocates for institutional improvement
- dissidentsPolitical objectors
radicals · agitators · organizers · movements · ideologues · progressives · liberation · resistance · cadres · mobilizers
modernists
Advocates of contemporary approaches
- experimentalistsThose conducting trials
- movementsChanges in position
- manifestosPublic declarations of principles
Dadaists · Bauhaus · abstract · radical · provocateurs · unconventional · boundary-pushing · counterculture · underground · subversive
- trailblazerstrailblazers, pioneers, innovators, groundbreakers, forerunners
- navigatorsnavigators, navigator, pathfinders, helmsman, wayfinders
vanguardsrearguards
Units defending from behind
rears · backs · stragglers · cabooses · tail ends
vanguardstraditionalists
Upholders of established customs
conservatives · reactionaries · old guard · dinosaurs · stick-in-the-muds
vanguardsfollowers
People who support someone
latecomers · rank and file · laggards · masses · sheep