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
News Desk, Artforum, 30 Mar. 2026
Take, for instance, a scene featuring a woman in a kind of avant-garde milkmaid ensemble confronting a monstrously tall figure that, upon close examination, is actually a child perched atop a man’s shoulders, wearing a long trench coat.
—Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
In Lohja, almost 40 miles from the Finnish capital of Helsinki, a 365-square-foot sustainable tiny house stands as a matte black, avant-garde response to modern day climate and demographic challenges.
—Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
Adjective
Machado went on to enjoy a long career in avant-garde theater, garnering accolades for his striking and magnetic stage presence, despite his modest claims otherwise.
—News Desk, Artforum, 30 Mar. 2026
Take, for instance, a scene featuring a woman in a kind of avant-garde milkmaid ensemble confronting a monstrously tall figure that, upon close examination, is actually a child perched atop a man’s shoulders, wearing a long trench coat.
—Chris Wiley, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
Noun
Meanwhile, avant-garde heavy rockers Deftones became unexpected TikTok darlings and arena stars.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
In Lohja, almost 40 miles from the Finnish capital of Helsinki, a 365-square-foot sustainable tiny house stands as a matte black, avant-garde response to modern day climate and demographic challenges.
—Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avant-garde
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, the oil industry blames California's progressive policies for driving them out.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
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Sunshine died March 15 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, after a battle with progressive supranuclear palsy, a family spokesperson announced.—
Mike Barnes,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In the 1950s, the Eisenhower administration decided that the transportation vanguard was off the tracks, creating — and, critically, continuously funding — the interstate highway system, fueling the world's proudest car culture.—
Jon Wertheim,
CBS News,
5 Apr. 2026
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As the old vanguard of civil rights leaders pass, who will fill the void?—
Brittany Luse,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Late last month, cyber stocks slumped after Fortune discovered a draft blog post from Anthropic, which revealed the model’s advanced cyber capabilities and possible risks.—
Samantha Subin,Hugh Son,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
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In 2024, CesiumAstro landed a contract with NASA to develop advanced radio to support ground testing of navigation networks.—
Brandon Lingle,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
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After conquering the internet underground, perhaps Yeat believes that stadium status is all that’s left.—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
31 Mar. 2026
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His father was forged by years of revolutionary hardship—prison, persecution, life underground—before coming to power and reportedly amassing a war chest exceeding $100 billion, built in part from properties confiscated from religious minorities who fled persecution.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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As part of this singularly unconventional deal, CBS pays not a red cent for the privilege of covering the tourney, and while that leaves as much as $125 million in rights fees on the table, Augusta more than makes up for that by way of the gate, merch and concessions.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
10 Apr. 2026
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If that weren’t unconventional enough, each performance is scheduled to begin at 11pm.—
Charles Lewis III,
Mercury News,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And as part of the deal, the duo will direct Sony’s Columbia Pictures adaptation of Metal Gear Solid, the pioneering video game created by Hideo Kojima.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
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Then, Guilarte traveled to Medellín, Colombia, to meet with Francisco Lopera, the pioneering Alzheimer’s researcher who uncovered a heritable form of the disease that existed in his home region.—
Brianna Abbott,
STAT,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Italian experimentalist goes absolutely haywire on a very overwhelming, very fun half-hour of ecstatic avant metal.—
Sam Goldner,
Pitchfork,
30 Mar. 2026
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Cabin in the Sky, for its part, evokes artistry beyond the genre, like Stereolab’s Margarine Eclipse, where the Chicago avant-pop band struggled to process the loss of longtime member Mary Hansen.—
Mosi Reeves,
Rolling Stone,
25 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Chernyshov is a big, strong (6-foot-3, about 200 pounds) winger and modern power-forward type where driving is a part of his identity, but not to a bullish fault as his only focus, and his skill/finesse might take on greater emphasis.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
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Each room is decorated with antiques and architectural salvage that’s been collected over the years, adding a little personality to the modern space.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avant-garde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avant-garde. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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