avant-garde 1 of 2

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
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
Such avant-garde court designs certainly are the rage these days. Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2025 That’s more than there were in MoMA’s big Russian avant-garde show in 2016, a lack on the level of a book about the Civil War that barely mentions Lincoln. Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for avant-garde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avant-garde
Adjective
  • Moskowitz has the lowest rating of any Florida Democrat in scoring by Progressive Punch, which produces a database of congressional voting records from a progressive perspective.
    Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Sinema also noted progressive leader Rep. Pramila Jayapal's (D-Wash.) demands for Schumer to filibuster.
    Justin Green, Axios, 15 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Little Review, the radical and short-lived magazine helmed by Jane Heap and Margaret Anderson, was a vanguard of modernism in American culture.
    Francesca Wade, The New York Review of Books, 28 Nov. 2024
  • Black communities are usually at the creative vanguard, from Renaissance art movements to fashion and even colloquialisms.
    Jasmine Browley, Essence, 3 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Fish added that Samsara faces no material competition, other than a few private telematics companies, as service providers and automakers have struggled to compete with Samsara’s more advanced technology.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Some grilles conceal forward-looking sensors that contribute to the car's suite of advanced driver assistance systems.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Their instantly arresting look pulled from David Bowie’s androgyny and the drag-culture underground in New York.
    August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2025
  • Gordon, who is also a health and wellness coach, has spent the last five-plus years in the psychedelic underground working primarily with people who experience chronic pain.
    Christine Ricciardi, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The setting may be unconventional, but the luxury is undeniable.
    Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • His unconventional style and ventures (e.g., X Corp, SpaceX) and track record of turning ambitious ideas into reality is remarkable.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • The gentle, squishy textures of those loops, along with the work of avant jazz harp player Zeena Parkins, make for the strangely appropriate sonic backdrop of some of Björk’s most intimate and erotic songs.
    Al Shipley, SPIN, 22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s never been a better time to accomplish this goal thanks to loads of markdowns on Martha Stewart’s Wayfair line, which is packed with modern farmhouse furniture and decor that exude springtime’s fresh, calming spirit.
    Megan Schaltegger, People.com, 15 Mar. 2025
  • All interiors have been gut-renovated and tastefully restored with stylish and comfortable contemporary furnishings with clean lines, natural materials, and an appealing mix of Scandinavian and mid-century modern sensibilities.
    Irene S. Levine, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • The Monolith chair’s design is a result of its production methods: clean lines and lack of visible joints which contributes to its sleek, contemporary look, reflecting a commitment to both functionality and environmental responsibility.
    Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • However, the movie’s framing has widespread contemporary resonance, and an enormous overlap with how trans issues are discussed, particularly in how individuals who deviate from strict gender norms are so readily demonized by others.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Avant-garde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avant-garde. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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