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
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
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
Christian Allaire, Vogue, 13 May 2025
Over the course of a decade, Estonian avant-garde rapper Tommy Cash has become one of pop music’s eminent tricksters.
—Reanna Cruz, Vulture, 13 May 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
Over 50 Indigenous designers took part in the weekend, each one debuting avant-garde creations with a poignant cultural flair.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 13 May 2025
Over the course of a decade, Estonian avant-garde rapper Tommy Cash has become one of pop music’s eminent tricksters.
—Reanna Cruz, Vulture, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avant-garde
Adjective
-
The resulting feed, shown in this article as a selection of posts curated from the much larger set, revealed ample praise for Mr. Musk and his various priorities, mixed with a torrent of right-wing outrage over progressive politics.—
Stuart A. Thompson,
New York Times,
15 May 2025
-
Even from a progressive perspective, there is a glaring disconnect between his rhetoric and reality.—
Paul Vallas,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
Noun
-
Palestinian elections held the following year resulted in a major win for Hamas, leading to a crisis in the fledgling PA government and a violent rift between the Islamist group and the traditional Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) vanguard of Fatah, a secular, leftist movement.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
-
Those involved with the brand have described Reuss as a protector, vanguard and even spiritual leader of sorts for Cadillac.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
5 May 2025
Adjective
-
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been investigating collisions involving Tesla's full self-driving (FSD) advanced driver assistance software in reduced roadway visibility conditions since October.—
Akash Sriram,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
-
Selling and facilitating advanced AI and cloud services to a government engaged in systemic ethnic cleansing is not ‘business is usual’.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
The thriller follows a streetwise chess prodigy pulled into a brutal underground circuit where every match is a deadly gamble.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
15 May 2025
-
However, remember that this will not remove the fungi underground, just the visible mushrooms.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
11 May 2025
Adjective
-
Consider a colleague who presented unconventional ideas in meetings or pursued a less traditional career path.—
Glenn Llopis,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
-
Featured prominently on many critics’ best-of-year lists, the book has captivated readers around the world, sparking a cultural dialogue around female desire, aging and unconventional relationships.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
23 May 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
The collection Olsen’s gown hails from was rife with avant, flowing takes on bows, whether at the shoulders of pastel dresses or at the hips of drop waist dresses or tailored jackets.—
Marissa Muller,
WWD,
22 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
His visit is a divergence from the tradition among modern U.S. presidents to visit Mexico or Canada during their first foreign trip, which comes after his administration levied tariffs against the neighboring nations early in his term.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
-
According to Reed, Roger Fry and Clive Bell opened the way for the creation and reception of modern art in the first decades of the twentieth century.—
Jenny Noyce,
JSTOR Daily,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
The exhibition will showcase the radical contributions of disabled, deaf and neurodivergent people and communities to design and contemporary culture, stretching from the 1940s to the present day.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
-
But the version of the fountain of youth myth that has the strongest hold on contemporary culture comes not from ancient times, from Egypt, Greece or Rome.—
Sean Kingsley,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Avant-garde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avant-garde. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share