avant-garde 1 of 2

Definition of avant-gardenext

avant-garde

2 of 2

noun

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of avant-garde
Adjective
With its technical prowess and avant-garde ambitions, many would argue that fashion belongs on the same plane as painting or sculpture. Rachel Tashjian, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026 Meanwhile, avant-garde heavy rockers Deftones became unexpected TikTok darlings and arena stars. Los Angeles Times, 27 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
  • In the movie, which was progressive for its time, the trans character attempts suicide after being subjected to emotional and physical abuse by the manipulative Sonny, who tries to make amends by going rogue and stealing money for their surgery.
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Upstairs, Riva Terrace is a super-fun warm-weather spot for Italian small plates and progressive cocktails like First Light (a pineapple-run creation infused with ginger and ginseng) overlooking the outdoor pool and the office buildings of downtown.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • As the old vanguard of civil rights leaders pass, who will fill the void?
    Brittany Luse, NPR, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The once-insurgent vanguards who cast their first votes for Barack Obama have relinquished their cool factor to Gen Z, who will one day undergo the same process themselves as time continues its relentless march forward.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Brooklyn Bedding Aurora Luxe Cooling The Aurora Luxe Cooling mattress from Brooklyn Bedding excels at temperature regulation courtesy of its advanced cooling technologies and breathable hybrid construction.
    Sharon Brandwein, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
  • The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office credited the breakthroughs to forensic genealogy, a process that combines advanced DNA sequencing with traditional genealogical research to locate living relatives.
    Aidin Vaziri, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • After conquering the internet underground, perhaps Yeat believes that stadium status is all that’s left.
    Mosi Reeves, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2026
  • 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
  • The situation was finally resolved when a wildlife response team used an unconventional method, crawling under the house and firing paintballs filled with vegetable oil to drive the bear out.
    Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
  • This unconventional but sweet design was the perfect reference to Margaret’s free spirit.
    Jessica Gibbs, InStyle, 2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The plan, known as Project Chariot, generated intense debate, as well as a pioneering environmental study of Arctic food webs.
    Christine Keiner, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The shift in women's sports is both gratifying and bittersweet for players and coaches from the pioneering schools that helped spark this current growth.
    ABC News, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The Italian experimentalist goes absolutely haywire on a very overwhelming, very fun half-hour of ecstatic avant metal.
    Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
  • 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
  • But this modern approach is teamed with ancient medicinal practices and a holistic, full-circle philosophy.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Those are just some of the ways in which the three elements have become critical for modern manufacturing, including for defense.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 31 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Avant-garde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avant-garde. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

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