LEADING EDGE Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

leading edge 1 of 2

noun

ˈlē-diŋ-

Definition of leading edge

as in forefront

the leading or most important part of a movement an activist who is on the leading edge of the fight for equal marriage rights

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

leading-edge

2 of 2

adjective

as in modern

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 leading edge

Noun

With moisture moving in from the Atlantic coast, national weather service Meteo France forecast light rain in the town of Lege-Cap Ferret, on a peninsula that's been a leading edge of the devastated region. — ABC News, 30 July 2026 Kids appear to be the leading edge of this shift, not just incidental beneficiaries of it. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 24 July 2026

Adjective

Yep, there is a lot to admire about leading-edge AI. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 Brittin is something of an AI evangelist — a man who has had his nose pressed to the glass of leading-edge AI discoveries from the likes of Demis Hassabis, a fellow Brit who runs the hugely influential Google DeepMind. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for leading edge

Recent Examples of Synonyms for leading edge

Noun

Lord’s has not been at the forefront of very much in recent times.

— Ben Jones Aug. 26, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
The move, officials say, gives the mission more heft and eases collaboration with the Navy and Air Force, which are at the forefront of the administration’s campaigns.

— Megan Rose, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of forefront

Adjective

Most people go to campgrounds to escape the plagues of modern technology, so try to keep the decibels to a minimum.

— Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
During the Renaissance, Italians refined fencing into its modern form, and soon fencing schools began popping up all over Europe.

— Rebecca Leib, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of modern

Adjective

The video is the latest in a lengthy stream of controversies the probation department has faced in recent years.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2023
The American Western drama is the latest of Taylor Sheridan's ever-growing Yellowstone franchise surrounding the legacy of the Dutton family from west of the Mississippi.

— Sabrina Park, Harper's BAZAAR, 14 Feb. 2023

Definition of latest

Adjective

Beyond its restoration, the historic Palazzo Giovanelli has been reimagined as a boutique, 33-room, five-star hotel that blends a rich Venetian heritage with contemporary luxury.

— Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Her replacement, Christophe Leribault, critics say, is a somewhat safer pick who will likely shift the museum away from the robust contemporary art program under Des Cars, and toward a more French and Western-centric vision.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of contemporary

Adjective

But the lobbyist has doubled down on her criticism of McCuskey in a recent letter to Illinois’ four top legislative leaders and obtained by the Tribune.

— Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
But the university’s recent actions in a lawsuit filed by a former student who was attacked on campus during that period appear at odds with that commitment.

— Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of recent

Adjective

The release of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold reinforces Google’s strategy of prioritizing the development and distribution of mobile AI over cutting-edge specs that other foldable manufacturers covet.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Big Ridley commands armies of extras, builds enormous sets and deploys cutting-edge visual effects to create places that no longer exist — or never did.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of cutting-edge

Adjective

According to the International Energy Agency, global small modular reactor capacity could reach roughly 40 GW by 2050 under current policies, or as much as 120 GW under an accelerated scenario.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
The longer the current situation continues, the greater the strain on an economy already struggling with shortages, inflation and restrictions on trade.

— Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of current

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Leading edge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/leading%20edge. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of leading edge

noun

adjective

Example Sentences

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