as in progressive
being or employing the latest concepts, styles, or techniques
a very avant-garde artist whose works wouldn't even be considered art by many traditionalists
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in vanguard
the innovators of new concepts, styles, and techniques especially in the arts
to the theater world's avant-garde, the melodrama seemed like a very old-fashioned play whose time had come and gone
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of avant-garde
Jon Burlingame, Variety, 12 Mar. 2023
The nude, floor-length frock hinted at old Hollywood, perhaps a nod to mom Janet Leigh, but with the avant-garde touch of exterior boning in the corset.
—Christopher Muther, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Mar. 2023
Marina Watts, People.com, 17 July 2025
The film touches on Buckley’s childhood, his prominence in New York’s avant-garde downtown scene in the early 1990s, and his rise to fame with the release of his masterful 1994 debut—and only studio album—Grace.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
Adjective
Active in avant-garde music on the European music scene, Bertelmann frequently employs prepared piano and electronics.
—Jon Burlingame, Variety, 12 Mar. 2023
The nude, floor-length frock hinted at old Hollywood, perhaps a nod to mom Janet Leigh, but with the avant-garde touch of exterior boning in the corset.
—Christopher Muther, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Mar. 2023
Noun
His star began to rise in New York City’s avant-garde club in the 1990s.
—Marina Watts, People.com, 17 July 2025
The film touches on Buckley’s childhood, his prominence in New York’s avant-garde downtown scene in the early 1990s, and his rise to fame with the release of his masterful 1994 debut—and only studio album—Grace.
—Madison Bloom, Pitchfork, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avant-garde
Adjective
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Shoshana, like most of Tel Aviv, is modern, progressive and feminist.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
25 July 2025
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But before the summer fruit became an icon of a leisurely lifestyle, tomatoes, at least in American culture, were once a symbol of progressive rural life.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
25 July 2025
Noun
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Lalonde was key in developing a unique strategy that brought the group’s vanguard brands B&B Italia, Flos, Louis Poulsen, Maxalto, Arclinea and Azucena under one roof.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
27 June 2025
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The multi-media vanguard is now channeling his creative vision into telling authentic stories of Black love through independent filmmaking.—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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And as the study shows, adding just one new use case or increasing frequency of use can quickly move teams toward more advanced performance, without needing a major investment.—
Ron Schmelzer,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
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From planting trees after every project to implementing advanced insulation systems and solar integration, Good Earth Builders is leading the way in eco-conscious development, proving that responsible construction is both possible and necessary.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
Noun
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In making that case, the mayor has touted how some crime categories have trended downward under his leadership, including underground.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
16 July 2025
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Others are hidden in some of the game's most out-of-the-way underground crevices and practically require the use of collectible in-game treasure maps to find.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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President Donald Trump has long flexed the power of the White House to insert himself into unconventional areas ‒ from the type of sugar in Coca-Cola to renaming the Gulf of Mexico.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
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Often unconventional, like their Vantablack dials, Moser brings something fresh to the Canadian market, and its new POP collection amplifies this creative edge even further.—
Matthew Catellier,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Julia Fox pretty much owns avant garde fashion at this point.—
Kleigh Balugo,
StyleCaster,
29 Jan. 2025
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His tunes draw on a broad spectrum of Black American music, seamlessly encompassing blues, funk and R&B along with bebop and avant garde directions forged by Ornette Coleman (which are also steeped in the blues).—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Climate control systems can monitor and regulate all the inputs in modern greenhouses and hoop houses.—
Julie Weed,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
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This strategic move was driven by her experience with digital infrastructure and understanding of modern consumer behavior.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
Adjective
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Here are five urban destinations defining the contemporary Southern barbecue scene.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
23 July 2025
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To follow her there is to experience one of the sublime pleasures of contemporary American nature writing.—
The Atlantic Culture Desk,
The Atlantic,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Avant-garde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avant-garde. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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