as in progressive
being or employing the latest concepts, styles, or techniques
readers of this very avant novel should not expect to find much in the way of traditional narrative structure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of avant
Jim Rinnert was the longtime art director for In These Times magazine and a theater enthusiast who co-wrote an award-winning multimedia theatrical work based on the writings of avant-grade theater and cinema artist Antonin Artaud.
—
Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
The product of a multinational household — daughter of a West African percussionist and a Swedish designer, stepdaughter of avant-jazz trumpeter Don Cherry — this year's most daring Best New Artist nominee went on to join several abrasive and ear-shattering British punk bands in the early '80s.
—EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
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 port forged the city’s avant-gardism and its melting-pot population, which now comprises more than 170 nationalities.
—Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for avant
Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 21 Aug. 2025
The product of a multinational household — daughter of a West African percussionist and a Swedish designer, stepdaughter of avant-jazz trumpeter Don Cherry — this year's most daring Best New Artist nominee went on to join several abrasive and ear-shattering British punk bands in the early '80s.
—EW.com, 13 Aug. 2025
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 port forged the city’s avant-gardism and its melting-pot population, which now comprises more than 170 nationalities.
—Mary Winston Nicklin, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for avant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avant
Adjective
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Her authority has been challenged in several high-profile cases, diminishing hopes in both progressive and populist MAGA circles for tough antitrust enforcement.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
According to much of progressive ideology, we are supposed to think about identity all of the time.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Rosenblatt noted the improved ability to monetize streaming with its partnership with Amazon, a new ad tool for small and mid-sized businesses and tweaks made to the front page for advanced ads.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Everesse Built around advanced monopolar radiofrequency (RF), Everesse by Volnewmer is designed to lift and firm skin on the face and body in two sessions, spaced three months apart.—
Elycia Rubin,
HollywoodReporter,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
For Holly, his pioneering work came by way of efforts to effectively modernize the genre of rock & roll, directly cited by the likes of The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and countless others as a core creative influence.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
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Beckett was particularly drawn to Proust’s pioneering depiction of involuntary memory—the sudden, revelatory insight into the past that springs from a cup of tea in his Search.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Smith for some time has dangled the prospect of running as an unconventional candidate against a field of career politicians, but there’s a big gap between not ruling out a run and actually doing it.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Creative director Heginz Janvier transformed classic silhouettes such as trenchcoats and cargo pants into new offerings by creating them from technical fabrics and adding pockets in unconventional locations, such as above the ankles or on the waist.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The riots are considered the spark that ignited the modern LGBTQ+-rights movement.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Where Iran’s protests stand One month after Iran was rocked by the beginning of the deadliest crackdown in its modern history, the full toll of the regime’s response to nationwide protests is still coming into focus.—
Somayeh Malekian,
ABC News,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Where Rage Racer went for an industrial vibe, and R4 chased the avant-garde, Rave Racer continued down the path established by the earliest installments in the franchise, with a glorious but simultaneously bizarre and frankly jarring dance soundtrack.—
Adam Ismail,
The Drive,
5 Feb. 2026
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The first drop from Naturalizer’s new Style-letics collection with Ambrose (who was appointed as the company’s global ambassador and creative director last summer) is nothing short of avant-garde and expectation-defying.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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These caverns under sidewalks could be used for storage, and circular pieces of thick glass in the sidewalk added natural light to these eerie underground chambers.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
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The latter houses the cryogenically frozen employees of Vault-Tec, a corporation that made a lot of money out of underground bunkers before the Great War.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The contemporary adaptation stars Ashton James (Boxcutter) in the title role of Dean Youngblood, a hockey prodigy who travels from Detroit to Canada to join the Hamilton Mustangs in pursuit of his professional hockey dreams.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
13 Feb. 2026
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True to her signature flair for whimsy, Samuel brought in lots of playful elements featuring warm colors, bright patterns, and contemporary silhouettes.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avant. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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