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
The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 29 May 2025
The avant-garde film follows a lesbian couple whose daughter disappears after eating contaminated fish, leading to a conspiracy involving environmental pollution and corporate corruption.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 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
The exhibition therefore became a scene of tension between designers who embraced the radical avant-garde and those that, without renouncing modernity, maintained certain links with traditional styles.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 29 May 2025
The avant-garde film follows a lesbian couple whose daughter disappears after eating contaminated fish, leading to a conspiracy involving environmental pollution and corporate corruption.
—David L. Coddon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avant-garde
Adjective
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Five years after Floyd’s killing, police backers say public opinion has largely swung back in favor of aggressive law enforcement, pointing to voter decisions last year to pass tough-on-crime legislation and oust progressive prosecutors.—
Hailey Branson-Potts,
Los Angeles Times,
27 May 2025
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The black lung clinic at Stone Mountain Health Services in southwestern Virginia has diagnosed 75 new cases of progressive massive fibrosis in the past year, according to its medical director, Drew Harris.—
Taylor Sisk,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
Noun
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How Johnson, who has tried to position himself as part of the progressive vanguard against Trump in urban America, responds to these threats will define much of his next two years in office.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
19 May 2025
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Despite the oracular hubris of the genetic-screening vanguard, the story a parent wants has only one primary source, one reliable narrator.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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However, because no candidate received over 50% of the vote in that round, both advanced to Sunday’s runoff election.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
2 June 2025
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Even during the May OTA malaise, few drills draw the eye more than the athleticism and advanced drill work of the Bengals’ skill players.—
Paul Dehner Jr,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
Noun
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And that song is just this crazy underground hit with all those guys.—
Emily Palmer Heller,
Vulture,
2 June 2025
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The film’s synopsis reads: Set in London’s iconic shadowy underground, the malevolent figure of Creep unleashes fresh terror on unsuspecting tube passengers and Londoners.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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This unconventional talent pool helped Tesla streamline operations and scale faster than legacy automakers expected.—
David Villa,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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Massey’s plea, while unconventional, underscores ongoing tensions between the criminal justice system and those who feel failed by it.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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The statue represents a traditional World War I American infantry soldier and a modern American infantryman.—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 May 2025
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These are the type of stories that have long helped make the modern US military so distinctive.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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The beloved slugger known as Big Papi built this contemporary estate, located in the Pinecrest area of Miami-Dade County, from scratch.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
5 June 2025
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But how it’s developed now for contemporary artists is that a lot of them know us for this sort of production technique.—
Steve Baltin,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Avant-garde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avant-garde. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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