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
Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025
LaPointe is known for its unique approach to modern, sophisticated womenswear, blending elements of traditional tailoring with avant-garde designs.
—Mecca Pryor, Essence, 10 Feb. 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
First Look’s avant-garde films were programmed by Edo Choi and David Schwartz, MoMI curator at large.
—Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2025
LaPointe is known for its unique approach to modern, sophisticated womenswear, blending elements of traditional tailoring with avant-garde designs.
—Mecca Pryor, Essence, 10 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for avant-garde
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avant-garde
Adjective
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By drawing from his Mexican and Irish American roots, as well as his life as a proud gay man, Chavarria flaunts his progressive principles while creating new and novel experiences on the runway.—
Cat Cardenas,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2025
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The energetic resistance movement that emerged to oppose Mr. Trump’s 2016 election — and that delivered Democrats the House in a 2018 landslide — made progressive aspirations for racial and gender equity seem more within reach.—
Shane Goldmacher,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Social media companies were wrongly held up as the instigators and vanguard of progressive political change when used by activists in the Middle East a decade and a half ago, and when the Obama ...—
Michael Brendan Dougherty,
National Review,
10 Jan. 2025
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As a candidate in 2023, Johnson relied on the city’s progressive labor vanguard — the Chicago Teachers Union and Service Employees International Union — to bankroll his campaign.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Imagine a digital assistant like Alexa but 10,000 times more advanced.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
14 Feb. 2025
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Musiala’s contract extension has been inevitable for some time, with negotiations reaching an advanced stage towards the end of 2024.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
The Athletic,
14 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The toolkit was first put up for sale on a Russian criminal underground forum for $2,500 in Oct. 2024.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes,
10 Feb. 2025
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His breakthrough came via 1977’s Eraserhead, which became popular in the midnight movie underground circuit.—
Rania Aniftos,
Billboard,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Two of this year’s contenders hope to chart an unconventional path.—
Kyle Buchanan,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2025
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In Nobody Wants This, an agnostic podcast host and an unconventional rabbi on the rebound walk into a party.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Emma Corrin is perhaps one of the most avant garde dressers in the game.—
Aamina Inayat Khan,
StyleCaster,
17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In matters of texture, cotton, knits, and compelling fabrics arrived in the form of modern corsetry, slick pantsuits, and boisterous dresses in assorted hues.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
7 Feb. 2025
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Davidson purchased the southwest corner lot and is planning a house, which will cost in the neighborhood of $4,000 and be modern in every respect.—
Kay Johnson,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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And male characters are complex, more of a reflection of contemporary masculinity.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
17 Feb. 2025
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One of the newest attractions extending from Bangkok to the Khao Yai region is Art Forest, a public project intended to propel Thailand’s contemporary art scene into the center of the Southeast Asia spotlight.—
Lane Nieset,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near avant-garde
Cite this Entry
“Avant-garde.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avant-garde. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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