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
Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025
Landry became a kind of cultural conduit—a link between the avant-garde scene of the North and the Cajun and Creole cultures of the South.
—Reya Hart, The Atlantic, 15 June 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
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Talking Heads, the avant-garde New York band that helped redefine Seventies rock & roll, especially that coming out of the city.
—Rolling Stone, 16 June 2025
Landry became a kind of cultural conduit—a link between the avant-garde scene of the North and the Cajun and Creole cultures of the South.
—Reya Hart, The Atlantic, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avant-garde
Adjective
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Mamdani, who espouses more progressive socialist-leaning views, wants to make New York City more affordable for all, paid for through more taxes on wealthy individuals and corporations.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Despite representing a team that finished 11th in the most recent Liga F season, Jacinto finished in the top 10 for progressive passes (third, with 238), key passes (joint eighth, with 49), passes into the final third (fifth, with 221), and passes into the penalty area (seventh, with 43).—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
30 June 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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Harper at least advanced Schwarber with a tapper back to the pitcher.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
8 July 2025
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Taming your hair can be challenging without the right tools, and Prime Day sales are the perfect opportunity to upgrade your old flat iron to something more advanced.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
8 July 2025
Noun
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Turkmenistan possesses the world’s fourth largest reserves of natural gas in its underground, exporting gas to countries such as Pakistan, China, India, Iran and Russia.—
David Bressan,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
-
New York is home to a thriving underground of edgy, experimental noise bands right now, and Brutus VIII, the conceptual project led by musician Jackson Katz, is one of the best.—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
6 May 2025
Adjective
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The early detection of viral RNA in wild bird droppings, sometimes preceding official poultry outbreaks, suggests that unconventional surveillance in these biologically rich but infrastructurally sparse areas could play a larger role in pandemic risk mitigation.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
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Now, in the weeks after its unconventional 22nd anniversary celebration, the label is set to launch one of its biggest — and most personal — compilations yet.—
Britt Julious,
Chicago Tribune,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
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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The sandals had a sleek, modern and striking appearance due to their vibrant color and minimalist design.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
1 July 2025
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While Scandinavian style has been at the vanguard of modern living for over a century, Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design festival has firmly cemented the Danish city as a design capital.—
Stephanie Sporn,
Vogue,
1 July 2025
Adjective
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Throughout the month, additional performances including international film screenings, dance (contemporary and classical), and hands-on ARTtalks—plus competitions, exhibitions, and free community events will be held.—
Cameron Beall,
Southern Living,
29 June 2025
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Unlike his contemporary, the science fiction author Jules Verne, who imagined a technologically facilitated journey to the Moon, Flammarion preferred a type of spiritual journey.—
Matthew Shindell,
Space.com,
29 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Avant-garde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avant-garde. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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