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Spearhead vs Vanguard - What's the difference?

spearhead | vanguard |

As nouns the difference between spearhead and vanguard

is that spearhead is the pointed head, or end, of a spear while vanguard is the leading units at the front of an army or fleet.

As a verb spearhead

is to drive or campaign ardently for, as an effort, project, etc.

spearhead

English

(wikipedia spearhead)

Noun

(en noun)
  • The pointed head, or end, of a spear.
  • *
  • *:Orion hit a rabbit once; but though sore wounded it got to the bury, and, struggling in, the arrow caught the side of the hole and was drawn out.. Ikey the blacksmith had forged us a spearhead after a sketch from a picture of a Greek warrior; and a rake-handle served as a shaft.
  • One who leads or initiates an activity (such as an attack or a campaign).
  • The leading military unit in an attack.
  • (lb) A player who initiates attacking moves.
  • *{{quote-news, year=2011, date=September 2, author=Phil McNulty, work=BBC
    • , title= Bulgaria 0-3 England , passage=England played at a tempo in attack that was too much for Bulgaria, with width provided at various times by Walcott, Young and Stewart Downing and Rooney acting as the potent spearhead .}}

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To drive or campaign ardently for, as an effort, project, etc.
    • He spearheaded the entire project from day one.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=April 21 , author=Jonathan Jurejko , title=Newcastle 3-0 Stoke , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Newcastle have put themselves within touching distance after a fantastic run which has been spearheaded by the goals of Senegal striker Cisse.}}

    vanguard

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The leading units at the front of an army or fleet.
  • (by extension) The person(s) at the forefront of any group or movement.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
    • , chapter=4 citation , passage=By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness, was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect.}}
  • * '>citation

    • Synonyms

    * advance guard

    Antonyms

    * rearguard

    Related terms

    * avantgarde