diff --git a/runtime/syntax/generator/vim.vim.base b/runtime/syntax/generator/vim.vim.base
index d07c5e2..2834268 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/generator/vim.vim.base
+++ b/runtime/syntax/generator/vim.vim.base
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 " Language:	   Vim script
 " Maintainer:	   Hirohito Higashi <h.east.727 ATMARK gmail.com>
 "	   Doug Kearns <dougkearns@gmail.com>
-" Last Change:	   2024 Dec 21
+" Last Change:	   2025 Jan 09
 " Former Maintainer: Charles E. Campbell
 
 " DO NOT CHANGE DIRECTLY.
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
 syn cluster vimCommentGroup	contains=vimTodo,@Spell
 
 " regular vim commands {{{2
-" GEN_SYN_VIM: vimCommand normal, START_STR='syn keyword vimCommand contained', END_STR=''
+" GEN_SYN_VIM: vimCommand normal, START_STR='syn keyword vimCommand contained', END_STR='nextgroup=vimBang'
 
 " Lower priority for _new_ to distinguish constructors from the command.
 syn match   vimCommand contained	"\<new\>(\@!"
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@
 syn cluster vimCmdList	contains=vimAbb,vimAddress,vimAutoCmd,vimAugroup,vimBehave,vimCall,vimCatch,vimConst,vimDef,vimDefFold,vimDelcommand,@vimEcho,vimEnddef,vimEndfunction,vimExecute,vimIsCommand,vimExtCmd,vimFor,vimFunction,vimFuncFold,vimGlobal,vimHighlight,vimLet,vimLoadkeymap,vimMap,vimMark,vimMatch,vimNotFunc,vimNormal,vimSet,vimSleep,vimSyntax,vimThrow,vimUnlet,vimUnmap,vimUserCmd,vimMenu,vimMenutranslate,@vim9CmdList
 syn cluster vim9CmdList	contains=vim9Abstract,vim9Class,vim9Const,vim9Enum,vim9Export,vim9Final,vim9For,vim9Interface,vim9Type,vim9Var
 syn match vimCmdSep	"[:|]\+"	skipwhite nextgroup=@vimCmdList,vimSubst1
-syn match vimIsCommand	"\<\%(\h\w*\|[23]mat\%[ch]\)\>"	contains=vimCommand
+syn match vimIsCommand	"\<\%(\h\w*\|[23]mat\%[ch]\)\>"	 nextgroup=vimBang contains=vimCommand
 syn match vimBang	      contained	"!"
 syn match vimVar	      contained	"\<\h[a-zA-Z0-9#_]*\>"
 syn match vimVar		"\<[bwglstav]:\h[a-zA-Z0-9#_]*\>"
@@ -214,7 +214,6 @@
 syn match vimVar        	"\s\zs&t_k;"
 syn match vimFBVar      contained   "\<[bwglstav]:\h[a-zA-Z0-9#_]*\>"
 syn keyword vimCommand  contained	in
-syn match vimBang	      contained	"!"
 
 syn cluster vimExprList	contains=vimEnvvar,vimFunc,vimNumber,vimOper,vimOperParen,vimLetRegister,vimString,vimVar,@vim9ExprList
 syn cluster vim9ExprList	contains=vim9Boolean,vim9Null
@@ -282,7 +281,8 @@
 " Operators: {{{2
 " =========
 syn cluster	vimOperGroup	contains=vimEnvvar,vimFunc,vimFuncVar,vimOper,vimOperParen,vimNumber,vimString,vimRegister,@vimContinue,vim9Comment,vimVar,vimBoolean,vimNull
-syn match	vimOper	"||\|&&\|[-+*/%.!]"			skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
+syn match	vimOper	"\a\@<!!"				skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
+syn match	vimOper	"||\|&&\|[-+*/%.]"			skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
 syn match	vimOper	"\%#=1\(==\|!=\|>=\|<=\|=\~\|!\~\|>\|<\|=\|!\~#\)[?#]\{0,2}"	skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
 syn match	vimOper	"\(\<is\|\<isnot\)[?#]\{0,2}\>"			skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
 syn region	vimOperParen 	matchgroup=vimParenSep	start="(" end=")" contains=@vimOperGroup
@@ -558,8 +558,8 @@
 syn region	vimPatRegion	contained transparent matchgroup=vimPatSepR start="\\[z%]\=(" end="\\)"	contains=@vimSubstList oneline
 syn match	vimNotPatSep	contained	"\\\\"
 syn cluster	vimStringGroup	contains=vimEscape,vimEscapeBrace,vimPatSep,vimNotPatSep,vimPatSepErr,vimPatSepZone,@Spell
-syn region	vimString	oneline keepend	start=+[^a-zA-Z>!\\@]"+lc=1 skip=+\\\\\|\\"+ matchgroup=vimStringEnd end=+"+	contains=@vimStringGroup extend
-syn region	vimString	oneline keepend	start=+[^a-zA-Z>!\\@]'+lc=1 end=+'+ extend
+syn region	vimString	oneline keepend	start=+[^a-zA-Z>\\@]"+lc=1 skip=+\\\\\|\\"+ matchgroup=vimStringEnd end=+"+	contains=@vimStringGroup extend
+syn region	vimString	oneline keepend	start=+[^a-zA-Z>\\@]'+lc=1 end=+'+ extend
 "syn region	vimString	oneline	start="\s/\s*\A"lc=1 skip="\\\\\|\\+" end="/"	contains=@vimStringGroup  " see tst45.vim
 syn match	vimString	contained	+"[^"]*\\$+	skipnl nextgroup=vimStringCont
 syn match	vimStringCont	contained	+\(\\\\\|.\)\{-}[^\\]"+
@@ -681,10 +681,12 @@
 
 " Autocmd: {{{2
 " =======
-syn match	vimAutoEventList	contained	"\(!\s\+\)\=\(\a\+,\)*\a\+"	contains=vimAutoEvent nextgroup=vimAutoCmdSpace
+syn match	vimAutoCmdBang	contained	"\a\@1<=!"	skipwhite nextgroup=vimAutoEventList
+syn match	vimAutoEventList	contained	"\%(\a\+,\)*\a\+"	contains=vimAutoEvent nextgroup=vimAutoCmdSpace
 syn match	vimAutoCmdSpace	contained	"\s\+"	nextgroup=vimAutoCmdSfxList
 syn match	vimAutoCmdSfxList	contained	"\S*"	skipwhite nextgroup=vimAutoCmdMod,vimAutoCmdBlock
-syn keyword	vimAutoCmd	au[tocmd] do[autocmd] doautoa[ll]	skipwhite nextgroup=vimAutoEventList
+syn keyword	vimAutoCmd	au[tocmd]		skipwhite nextgroup=vimAutoCmdBang,vimAutoEventList
+syn keyword	vimAutoCmd	do[autocmd] doautoa[ll]	skipwhite nextgroup=vimAutoEventList
 syn match	vimAutoCmdMod	"\(++\)\=\(once\|nested\)"	skipwhite nextgroup=vimAutoCmdBlock
 syn region	vimAutoCmdBlock	contained	matchgroup=vimSep start="{" end="}" contains=@vimDefBodyList
 
@@ -1269,6 +1271,7 @@
  hi def link vimAugroupError	vimError
  hi def link vimAugroupKey	vimCommand
  hi def link vimAutoCmd	vimCommand
+ hi def link vimAutoCmdBang	vimBang
  hi def link vimAutoEvent	Type
  hi def link vimAutoCmdMod	Special
  hi def link vimBang	vimOper
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_01.dump b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_01.dump
index f1a7330..81a4e21 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_01.dump
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_01.dump
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
 |e+0#af5f00255&|c|h|o| +0#0000000&|'+0#e000002&|D|o|n|'@1|t| |h|i|g|h|l|i|g|h|t| |i|n|t|e|r|p|o|l|a|t|i|o|n|:| |{@1| |{|1| |+| |2|}| |}@1|'| +0#0000000&@22
 |e+0#af5f00255&|c|h|o| +0#0000000&|"+0#e000002&|D|o|n|'|t| |h|i|g|h|l|i|g|h|t| |i|n|t|e|r|p|o|l|a|t|i|o|n|:| |{@1| |{|1| |+| |2|}| |}@1|"| +0#0000000&@23
 |e+0#af5f00255&|c|h|o| +0#0000000&|$+0#e000002&|'|H|i|g|h|l|i|g|h|t| |i|n|t|e|r|p|o|l|a|t|i|o|n|:|\|t|{+0#e000e06&@1| +0#e000002&|{+0#e000e06&| +0#0000000&|s+0#00e0e07&|t|r|i|n|g|(+0#e000e06&|{|'+0#e000002&|f|o@1|'|:+0#0000000&| |'+0#e000002&|b|a|r|'|}+0#e000e06&|)| +0#0000000&|}+0#e000e06&| +0#e000002&|}+0#e000e06&@1|'+0#e000002&| +0#0000000&@8
-@57|1|5|,|1| @9|2|0|%| 
+@57|1|5|,|1| @9|1|8|%| 
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_02.dump b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_02.dump
index 516a691..d1d443e 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_02.dump
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_02.dump
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
 @75
 |"+0#0000e05&| |O|c|t|a|l| +0#0000000&@67
 |e+0#af5f00255&|c|h|o| +0#0000000&@1|0+0#e000002&|3|7@1| +0#0000000&@64
-@57|3@1|,|1| @9|5|0|%| 
+@57|3@1|,|1| @9|4|6|%| 
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_03.dump b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_03.dump
index 5300116..90cd8c8 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_03.dump
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_03.dump
@@ -17,4 +17,4 @@
 |e+0#af5f00255&|c|h|o| +0#0000000&|5+0#e000002&@1|.|0| +0#0000000&@65
 |e+0#af5f00255&|c|h|o| +0#0000000&|-+0#af5f00255&|0+0#e000002&|.|1|2|3| +0#0000000&@63
 |e+0#af5f00255&|c|h|o| +0#0000000&|1+0#e000002&|.|2|3|4|e|0|3| +0#0000000&@61
-@57|5|1|,|1| @9|8|4|%| 
+@57|5|1|,|1| @9|7@1|%| 
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_04.dump b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_04.dump
index 4cb0891..b7737c6 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_04.dump
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/dumps/vim_expr_04.dump
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@
 |e+0#af5f00255&|c|h|o| +0#0000000&|0+0#e000002&|z|F@1|0@1|E|D|0|1|5|D|A|F| +0#0000000&@55
 |e+0#af5f00255&|c|h|o| +0#0000000&|0+0#e000002&|z|F@1|0@1|.|E|D|0|1|.|5|D|A|F| +0#0000000&@53
 |e+0#af5f00255&|c|h|o| +0#0000000&|0+0#e000002&|z|F@1|.|0@1|.|E|D|.|0|1|.|5|D|.|A|F| +0#0000000&@50
+@75
+@75
+|"+0#0000e05&| |I|s@1|u|e| |#|1|6|2@1|1| |(|v|i|m|S|t|r|i|n|g| |b|e|c|o|m|e|s| |v|i|m|V|a|r| |w|h|e|n| |p|r|e|c|e|d|e|d| |b|y| |!|)| +0#0000000&@14
+|l+0#af5f00255&|e|t| +0#0000000&|b+0#00e0e07&|a|r| +0#0000000&|=+0#af5f00255&| +0#0000000&|!+0#af5f00255&|'+0#e000002&|g|:|b|a|r|'|-+0#af5f00255&|>|e+0#00e0e07&|x|i|s|t|s|(+0#e000e06&|)| +0#0000000&@46
+@75
 |~+0#4040ff13&| @73
 |~| @73
 |~| @73
 |~| @73
 |~| @73
-|~| @73
-|~| @73
-|~| @73
-|~| @73
-|~| @73
 | +0#0000000&@56|6|9|,|1| @9|B|o|t| 
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/testdir/input/vim_expr.vim b/runtime/syntax/testdir/input/vim_expr.vim
index 610c2be..8d30656 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/testdir/input/vim_expr.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/testdir/input/vim_expr.vim
@@ -70,3 +70,8 @@
 echo 0zFF00ED015DAF
 echo 0zFF00.ED01.5DAF
 echo 0zFF.00.ED.01.5D.AF
+
+
+" Issue #16221 (vimString becomes vimVar when preceded by !)
+let bar = !'g:bar'->exists()
+
diff --git a/runtime/syntax/vim.vim b/runtime/syntax/vim.vim
index 2c7d91e..1a2aa6e 100644
--- a/runtime/syntax/vim.vim
+++ b/runtime/syntax/vim.vim
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 " Language:	   Vim script
 " Maintainer:	   Hirohito Higashi <h.east.727 ATMARK gmail.com>
 "	   Doug Kearns <dougkearns@gmail.com>
-" Last Change:	   2025 Jan 03
+" Last Change:	   2025 Jan 09
 " Former Maintainer: Charles E. Campbell
 
 " DO NOT CHANGE DIRECTLY.
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@
 syn cluster vimCommentGroup	contains=vimTodo,@Spell
 
 " regular vim commands {{{2
-" GEN_SYN_VIM: vimCommand normal, START_STR='syn keyword vimCommand contained', END_STR=''
-syn keyword vimCommand contained abo[veleft] al[l] ar[gs] arga[dd] argd[elete] argdo argded[upe] arge[dit] argg[lobal] argl[ocal] argu[ment] as[cii] b[uffer] bN[ext] ba[ll] bad[d] balt bd[elete] bel[owright] bf[irst] bl[ast] bm[odified] bn[ext] bo[tright] bp[revious] br[ewind] brea[k] breaka[dd] breakd[el] breakl[ist] bro[wse] buffers bufd[o] bun[load] bw[ipeout] c[hange] cN[ext] cNf[ile] cabo[ve] cad[dbuffer] cadde[xpr] caddf[ile] caf[ter] cb[uffer] cbe[fore] cbel[ow] cbo[ttom] cc ccl[ose] cd cdo ce[nter] cex[pr] cf[ile] cfd[o] cfir[st] cg[etfile] cgetb[uffer] cgete[xpr] chd[ir] changes che[ckpath] checkt[ime] chi[story] cl[ist] cla[st] clo[se] cle[arjumps] cn[ext] cnew[er] cnf[ile] co[py] col[der] colo[rscheme] com[mand] comc[lear] comp[iler] con[tinue] conf[irm]
-syn keyword vimCommand contained cons[t] cope[n] cp[revious] cpf[ile] cq[uit] cr[ewind] cs[cope] cst[ag] cw[indow] d[elete] delm[arks] deb[ug] debugg[reedy] defc[ompile] defe[r] delf[unction] di[splay] dif[fupdate] diffg[et] diffo[ff] diffp[atch] diffpu[t] diffs[plit] difft[his] dig[raphs] disa[ssemble] dj[ump] dli[st] dr[op] ds[earch] dsp[lit] e[dit] ea[rlier] el[se] em[enu] en[dif] endfo[r] endt[ry] endw[hile] ene[w] ev[al] ex exi[t] exu[sage] f[ile] files filet[ype] filt[er] fin[d] fina[lly] fini[sh] fir[st] fix[del] fo[ld] foldc[lose] foldd[oopen] folddoc[losed] foldo[pen] g[lobal] go[to] gr[ep] grepa[dd] gu[i] gv[im] h[elp] helpc[lose] helpf[ind] helpg[rep] helpt[ags] ha[rdcopy] hi[ghlight] hid[e] his[tory] hor[izontal] ij[ump] il[ist] imp[ort] int[ro] is[earch]
-syn keyword vimCommand contained isp[lit] j[oin] ju[mps] k kee[pmarks] keepj[umps] keepp[atterns] keepa[lt] l[ist] lN[ext] lNf[ile] la[st] lab[ove] lan[guage] lad[dexpr] laddb[uffer] laddf[ile] laf[ter] lat[er] lb[uffer] lbe[fore] lbel[ow] lbo[ttom] lc[d] lch[dir] lcl[ose] lcs[cope] ld[o] le[ft] lefta[bove] lex[pr] leg[acy] lf[ile] lfd[o] lfir[st] lg[etfile] lgetb[uffer] lgete[xpr] lgr[ep] lgrepa[dd] lh[elpgrep] lhi[story] ll lla[st] lli[st] lmak[e] lne[xt] lnew[er] lnf[ile] lo[adview] loc[kmarks] lockv[ar] lol[der] lop[en] lp[revious] lpf[ile] lr[ewind] lt[ag] lua luad[o] luaf[ile] lv[imgrep] lvimgrepa[dd] lw[indow] ls m[ove] ma[rk] mak[e] marks menut[ranslate] mes[sages] mk[exrc] mks[ession] mksp[ell] mkv[imrc] mkvie[w] mod[e] mz[scheme] mzf[ile] n[ext] nb[key]
-syn keyword vimCommand contained nbc[lose] nbs[tart] noa[utocmd] noh[lsearch] nos[wapfile] nu[mber] o[pen] ol[dfiles] on[ly] opt[ions] ow[nsyntax] p[rint] pa[ckadd] packl[oadall] pb[uffer] pc[lose] pe[rl] perld[o] ped[it] po[p] pp[op] pre[serve] prev[ious] pro[mptfind] promptr[epl] prof[ile] profd[el] ps[earch] pt[ag] ptN[ext] ptf[irst] ptj[ump] ptl[ast] ptn[ext] ptp[revious] ptr[ewind] pts[elect] pu[t] pw[d] py[thon] pyd[o] pyf[ile] py3 py3d[o] python3 py3f[ile] pyx pyxd[o] pythonx pyxf[ile] q[uit] quita[ll] qa[ll] r[ead] rec[over] red[o] redi[r] redr[aw] redraws[tatus] redrawt[abline] reg[isters] res[ize] ret[ab] rew[ind] ri[ght] rightb[elow] ru[ntime] rub[y] rubyd[o] rubyf[ile] rund[o] rv[iminfo] sN[ext] sa[rgument] sal[l] san[dbox] sav[eas] sb[uffer] sbN[ext]
-syn keyword vimCommand contained sba[ll] sbf[irst] sbl[ast] sbm[odified] sbn[ext] sbp[revious] sbr[ewind] scr[iptnames] scripte[ncoding] scriptv[ersion] scs[cope] setf[iletype] sf[ind] sfir[st] sh[ell] sim[alt] sig[n] sil[ent] sla[st] sn[ext] so[urce] sor[t] sp[lit] spe[llgood] spelld[ump] spelli[nfo] spellr[epall] spellra[re] spellu[ndo] spellw[rong] spr[evious] sre[wind] st[op] sta[g] star[tinsert] startg[replace] startr[eplace] stopi[nsert] stj[ump] sts[elect] sun[hide] sus[pend] sv[iew] sw[apname] synti[me] sync[bind] smi[le] t tN[ext] ta[g] tags tab tabc[lose] tabd[o] tabe[dit] tabf[ind] tabfir[st] tabm[ove] tabl[ast] tabn[ext] tabnew tabo[nly] tabp[revious] tabN[ext] tabr[ewind] tabs tc[d] tch[dir] tcl tcld[o] tclf[ile] te[aroff] ter[minal] tf[irst] tj[ump]
-syn keyword vimCommand contained tl[ast] tn[ext] to[pleft] tp[revious] tr[ewind] try ts[elect] u[ndo] undoj[oin] undol[ist] unh[ide] unlo[ckvar] uns[ilent] up[date] v[global] ve[rsion] verb[ose] vert[ical] vi[sual] vie[w] vim[grep] vimgrepa[dd] vim9[cmd] viu[sage] vne[w] vs[plit] w[rite] wN[ext] wa[ll] wi[nsize] winc[md] wind[o] winp[os] wn[ext] wp[revious] wq wqa[ll] wu[ndo] wv[iminfo] x[it] xa[ll] xr[estore] y[ank] z dl dell delel deletl deletel dp dep delp delep deletp deletep a i
+" GEN_SYN_VIM: vimCommand normal, START_STR='syn keyword vimCommand contained', END_STR='nextgroup=vimBang'
+syn keyword vimCommand contained abo[veleft] al[l] ar[gs] arga[dd] argd[elete] argdo argded[upe] arge[dit] argg[lobal] argl[ocal] argu[ment] as[cii] b[uffer] bN[ext] ba[ll] bad[d] balt bd[elete] bel[owright] bf[irst] bl[ast] bm[odified] bn[ext] bo[tright] bp[revious] br[ewind] brea[k] breaka[dd] breakd[el] breakl[ist] bro[wse] buffers bufd[o] bun[load] bw[ipeout] c[hange] cN[ext] cNf[ile] cabo[ve] cad[dbuffer] cadde[xpr] caddf[ile] caf[ter] cb[uffer] cbe[fore] cbel[ow] cbo[ttom] cc ccl[ose] cd cdo ce[nter] cex[pr] cf[ile] cfd[o] cfir[st] cg[etfile] cgetb[uffer] cgete[xpr] chd[ir] changes che[ckpath] checkt[ime] chi[story] cl[ist] cla[st] clo[se] cle[arjumps] cn[ext] cnew[er] cnf[ile] co[py] col[der] colo[rscheme] com[mand] comc[lear] comp[iler] con[tinue] conf[irm] nextgroup=vimBang
+syn keyword vimCommand contained cons[t] cope[n] cp[revious] cpf[ile] cq[uit] cr[ewind] cs[cope] cst[ag] cw[indow] d[elete] delm[arks] deb[ug] debugg[reedy] defc[ompile] defe[r] delf[unction] di[splay] dif[fupdate] diffg[et] diffo[ff] diffp[atch] diffpu[t] diffs[plit] difft[his] dig[raphs] disa[ssemble] dj[ump] dli[st] dr[op] ds[earch] dsp[lit] e[dit] ea[rlier] el[se] em[enu] en[dif] endfo[r] endt[ry] endw[hile] ene[w] ev[al] ex exi[t] exu[sage] f[ile] files filet[ype] filt[er] fin[d] fina[lly] fini[sh] fir[st] fix[del] fo[ld] foldc[lose] foldd[oopen] folddoc[losed] foldo[pen] g[lobal] go[to] gr[ep] grepa[dd] gu[i] gv[im] h[elp] helpc[lose] helpf[ind] helpg[rep] helpt[ags] ha[rdcopy] hi[ghlight] hid[e] his[tory] hor[izontal] ij[ump] il[ist] imp[ort] int[ro] is[earch] nextgroup=vimBang
+syn keyword vimCommand contained isp[lit] j[oin] ju[mps] k kee[pmarks] keepj[umps] keepp[atterns] keepa[lt] l[ist] lN[ext] lNf[ile] la[st] lab[ove] lan[guage] lad[dexpr] laddb[uffer] laddf[ile] laf[ter] lat[er] lb[uffer] lbe[fore] lbel[ow] lbo[ttom] lc[d] lch[dir] lcl[ose] lcs[cope] ld[o] le[ft] lefta[bove] lex[pr] leg[acy] lf[ile] lfd[o] lfir[st] lg[etfile] lgetb[uffer] lgete[xpr] lgr[ep] lgrepa[dd] lh[elpgrep] lhi[story] ll lla[st] lli[st] lmak[e] lne[xt] lnew[er] lnf[ile] lo[adview] loc[kmarks] lockv[ar] lol[der] lop[en] lp[revious] lpf[ile] lr[ewind] lt[ag] lua luad[o] luaf[ile] lv[imgrep] lvimgrepa[dd] lw[indow] ls m[ove] ma[rk] mak[e] marks menut[ranslate] mes[sages] mk[exrc] mks[ession] mksp[ell] mkv[imrc] mkvie[w] mod[e] mz[scheme] mzf[ile] n[ext] nb[key] nextgroup=vimBang
+syn keyword vimCommand contained nbc[lose] nbs[tart] noa[utocmd] noh[lsearch] nos[wapfile] nu[mber] o[pen] ol[dfiles] on[ly] opt[ions] ow[nsyntax] p[rint] pa[ckadd] packl[oadall] pb[uffer] pc[lose] pe[rl] perld[o] ped[it] po[p] pp[op] pre[serve] prev[ious] pro[mptfind] promptr[epl] prof[ile] profd[el] ps[earch] pt[ag] ptN[ext] ptf[irst] ptj[ump] ptl[ast] ptn[ext] ptp[revious] ptr[ewind] pts[elect] pu[t] pw[d] py[thon] pyd[o] pyf[ile] py3 py3d[o] python3 py3f[ile] pyx pyxd[o] pythonx pyxf[ile] q[uit] quita[ll] qa[ll] r[ead] rec[over] red[o] redi[r] redr[aw] redraws[tatus] redrawt[abline] reg[isters] res[ize] ret[ab] rew[ind] ri[ght] rightb[elow] ru[ntime] rub[y] rubyd[o] rubyf[ile] rund[o] rv[iminfo] sN[ext] sa[rgument] sal[l] san[dbox] sav[eas] sb[uffer] sbN[ext] nextgroup=vimBang
+syn keyword vimCommand contained sba[ll] sbf[irst] sbl[ast] sbm[odified] sbn[ext] sbp[revious] sbr[ewind] scr[iptnames] scripte[ncoding] scriptv[ersion] scs[cope] setf[iletype] sf[ind] sfir[st] sh[ell] sim[alt] sig[n] sil[ent] sla[st] sn[ext] so[urce] sor[t] sp[lit] spe[llgood] spelld[ump] spelli[nfo] spellr[epall] spellra[re] spellu[ndo] spellw[rong] spr[evious] sre[wind] st[op] sta[g] star[tinsert] startg[replace] startr[eplace] stopi[nsert] stj[ump] sts[elect] sun[hide] sus[pend] sv[iew] sw[apname] synti[me] sync[bind] smi[le] t tN[ext] ta[g] tags tab tabc[lose] tabd[o] tabe[dit] tabf[ind] tabfir[st] tabm[ove] tabl[ast] tabn[ext] tabnew tabo[nly] tabp[revious] tabN[ext] tabr[ewind] tabs tc[d] tch[dir] tcl tcld[o] tclf[ile] te[aroff] ter[minal] tf[irst] tj[ump] nextgroup=vimBang
+syn keyword vimCommand contained tl[ast] tn[ext] to[pleft] tp[revious] tr[ewind] try ts[elect] u[ndo] undoj[oin] undol[ist] unh[ide] unlo[ckvar] uns[ilent] up[date] v[global] ve[rsion] verb[ose] vert[ical] vi[sual] vie[w] vim[grep] vimgrepa[dd] vim9[cmd] viu[sage] vne[w] vs[plit] w[rite] wN[ext] wa[ll] wi[nsize] winc[md] wind[o] winp[os] wn[ext] wp[revious] wq wqa[ll] wu[ndo] wv[iminfo] x[it] xa[ll] xr[estore] y[ank] z dl dell delel deletl deletel dp dep delp delep deletp deletep a i nextgroup=vimBang
 
 " Lower priority for _new_ to distinguish constructors from the command.
 syn match   vimCommand contained	"\<new\>(\@!"
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@
 syn cluster vimCmdList	contains=vimAbb,vimAddress,vimAutoCmd,vimAugroup,vimBehave,vimCall,vimCatch,vimConst,vimDef,vimDefFold,vimDelcommand,@vimEcho,vimEnddef,vimEndfunction,vimExecute,vimIsCommand,vimExtCmd,vimFor,vimFunction,vimFuncFold,vimGlobal,vimHighlight,vimLet,vimLoadkeymap,vimMap,vimMark,vimMatch,vimNotFunc,vimNormal,vimSet,vimSleep,vimSyntax,vimThrow,vimUnlet,vimUnmap,vimUserCmd,vimMenu,vimMenutranslate,@vim9CmdList
 syn cluster vim9CmdList	contains=vim9Abstract,vim9Class,vim9Const,vim9Enum,vim9Export,vim9Final,vim9For,vim9Interface,vim9Type,vim9Var
 syn match vimCmdSep	"[:|]\+"	skipwhite nextgroup=@vimCmdList,vimSubst1
-syn match vimIsCommand	"\<\%(\h\w*\|[23]mat\%[ch]\)\>"	contains=vimCommand
+syn match vimIsCommand	"\<\%(\h\w*\|[23]mat\%[ch]\)\>"	 nextgroup=vimBang contains=vimCommand
 syn match vimBang	      contained	"!"
 syn match vimVar	      contained	"\<\h[a-zA-Z0-9#_]*\>"
 syn match vimVar		"\<[bwglstav]:\h[a-zA-Z0-9#_]*\>"
@@ -252,7 +252,6 @@
 syn match vimVar        	"\s\zs&t_k;"
 syn match vimFBVar      contained   "\<[bwglstav]:\h[a-zA-Z0-9#_]*\>"
 syn keyword vimCommand  contained	in
-syn match vimBang	      contained	"!"
 
 syn cluster vimExprList	contains=vimEnvvar,vimFunc,vimNumber,vimOper,vimOperParen,vimLetRegister,vimString,vimVar,@vim9ExprList
 syn cluster vim9ExprList	contains=vim9Boolean,vim9Null
@@ -320,7 +319,8 @@
 " Operators: {{{2
 " =========
 syn cluster	vimOperGroup	contains=vimEnvvar,vimFunc,vimFuncVar,vimOper,vimOperParen,vimNumber,vimString,vimRegister,@vimContinue,vim9Comment,vimVar,vimBoolean,vimNull
-syn match	vimOper	"||\|&&\|[-+*/%.!]"			skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
+syn match	vimOper	"\a\@<!!"				skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
+syn match	vimOper	"||\|&&\|[-+*/%.]"			skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
 syn match	vimOper	"\%#=1\(==\|!=\|>=\|<=\|=\~\|!\~\|>\|<\|=\|!\~#\)[?#]\{0,2}"	skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
 syn match	vimOper	"\(\<is\|\<isnot\)[?#]\{0,2}\>"			skipwhite nextgroup=vimString,vimSpecFile
 syn region	vimOperParen 	matchgroup=vimParenSep	start="(" end=")" contains=@vimOperGroup
@@ -598,8 +598,8 @@
 syn region	vimPatRegion	contained transparent matchgroup=vimPatSepR start="\\[z%]\=(" end="\\)"	contains=@vimSubstList oneline
 syn match	vimNotPatSep	contained	"\\\\"
 syn cluster	vimStringGroup	contains=vimEscape,vimEscapeBrace,vimPatSep,vimNotPatSep,vimPatSepErr,vimPatSepZone,@Spell
-syn region	vimString	oneline keepend	start=+[^a-zA-Z>!\\@]"+lc=1 skip=+\\\\\|\\"+ matchgroup=vimStringEnd end=+"+	contains=@vimStringGroup extend
-syn region	vimString	oneline keepend	start=+[^a-zA-Z>!\\@]'+lc=1 end=+'+ extend
+syn region	vimString	oneline keepend	start=+[^a-zA-Z>\\@]"+lc=1 skip=+\\\\\|\\"+ matchgroup=vimStringEnd end=+"+	contains=@vimStringGroup extend
+syn region	vimString	oneline keepend	start=+[^a-zA-Z>\\@]'+lc=1 end=+'+ extend
 "syn region	vimString	oneline	start="\s/\s*\A"lc=1 skip="\\\\\|\\+" end="/"	contains=@vimStringGroup  " see tst45.vim
 syn match	vimString	contained	+"[^"]*\\$+	skipnl nextgroup=vimStringCont
 syn match	vimStringCont	contained	+\(\\\\\|.\)\{-}[^\\]"+
@@ -723,10 +723,12 @@
 
 " Autocmd: {{{2
 " =======
-syn match	vimAutoEventList	contained	"\(!\s\+\)\=\(\a\+,\)*\a\+"	contains=vimAutoEvent nextgroup=vimAutoCmdSpace
+syn match	vimAutoCmdBang	contained	"\a\@1<=!"	skipwhite nextgroup=vimAutoEventList
+syn match	vimAutoEventList	contained	"\%(\a\+,\)*\a\+"	contains=vimAutoEvent nextgroup=vimAutoCmdSpace
 syn match	vimAutoCmdSpace	contained	"\s\+"	nextgroup=vimAutoCmdSfxList
 syn match	vimAutoCmdSfxList	contained	"\S*"	skipwhite nextgroup=vimAutoCmdMod,vimAutoCmdBlock
-syn keyword	vimAutoCmd	au[tocmd] do[autocmd] doautoa[ll]	skipwhite nextgroup=vimAutoEventList
+syn keyword	vimAutoCmd	au[tocmd]		skipwhite nextgroup=vimAutoCmdBang,vimAutoEventList
+syn keyword	vimAutoCmd	do[autocmd] doautoa[ll]	skipwhite nextgroup=vimAutoEventList
 syn match	vimAutoCmdMod	"\(++\)\=\(once\|nested\)"	skipwhite nextgroup=vimAutoCmdBlock
 syn region	vimAutoCmdBlock	contained	matchgroup=vimSep start="{" end="}" contains=@vimDefBodyList
 
@@ -1315,6 +1317,7 @@
  hi def link vimAugroupError	vimError
  hi def link vimAugroupKey	vimCommand
  hi def link vimAutoCmd	vimCommand
+ hi def link vimAutoCmdBang	vimBang
  hi def link vimAutoEvent	Type
  hi def link vimAutoCmdMod	Special
  hi def link vimBang	vimOper