avant-garde

[uh-vahnt-gahrd, uh-vant-, av-ahnt-, ah-vahnt-, a-vahn-gard] / əˌvɑntˈgɑrd, əˌvænt-, ˌæv ɑnt-, ˌɑ vɑnt-, a vɑ̃ˈgard /

ADJECTIVE

cutting-edge

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advanced ahead of its time cutting-edge experimental groundbreaking innovative innovatory inventive leading-edge modern new new-wave original pioneering progressive revolutionary state-of-the-art trailblazing ultramodern unorthodox

STRONG

daring forward-looking forward-thinking hip last-word nonconformist off the beaten path radical

WEAK

Bohemian offbeat unconventional unfamiliar unorthodox untraditional way-out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

behind the times old-fashioned orthodox outdated traditional

STRONG

conservative moderate

WEAK

conventional

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“I was always attracted to both the avant-garde stuff and the square stuff,” he explained.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

Ulysses Jenkins, the pioneering Los Angeles-born video artist whose avant-garde compositions embodied Black experimentalism, has died.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 2, 2026

Huppert said of avant-garde German filmmaker Ottinger that "you want to follow her vision, her craziness".

From Barron's • Feb. 18, 2026

Its closing track, a harmonically suspended instrumental titled “The Brazilian,” flirted with the avant-garde by repeating the same anti-melody, anchored on a jungle of percussive clangs and hyperkinetic Simmons drum rolls.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

Nor do I know whether accepting the lesson has placed me in the rear or in the avant-garde.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

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