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
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
Worn by celebrities like Amanda Seyfried, among others, Magda Butrym’s unique designs often embrace textural play and avant-grade designs by way of structuralism.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
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
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
Worn by celebrities like Amanda Seyfried, among others, Magda Butrym’s unique designs often embrace textural play and avant-grade designs by way of structuralism.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
See All Example Sentences for avant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for avant
Adjective
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Knock on doors, raise money for progressive candidates, and mobilize your friends, neighbors, colleagues and acquaintances.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
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Despite taking a progressive stand on labor, the Church nonetheless defended industrialization and private-property rights, forging a middle way that rejected both unfettered capitalism and socialism.—
Elias Wachtel,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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With three Game 6s taking place on Thursday, two teams advanced to the second round.—
Dan Santaromita,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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Satellite images showed that Tehran’s main targets included advanced radar systems, communications systems and aircraft.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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For a pioneering English thespian, whose career has been largely defined by a character consumed with obsession, this particular project carries an unintended symbolism.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
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The Germans also brought the art of classification to new heights of sophistication, culminating at the turn of the twentieth century with the pioneering work of Emil Kraepelin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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It’s based on an unconventional true story from recent history, set on the British Isles, with a tone that alternates between humorous and sorrowful before delivering an uplifting and humanist message, with skillfully invisible filmmaking that takes a backseat to the performances and story.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
24 Apr. 2026
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ZipRecruiter’s 2026 Graduate Report found that more are turning to unconventional jobs right out of college.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Yet another secondary effect of the Iran war is the expansion of modern drone warfare to the Persian Gulf region.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2026
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Clinics use modern equipment and high-quality materials and keep prices affordable.—
K.H. Koehler,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Tanière3 leads the pack as the city’s premier dining destination, earning two Michelin stars for its avant-garde boreal cuisine that draws on northern Quebec’s wild ingredients.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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And then there’s the daffy spectacle of the films themselves, with plots beholden to almost avant-garde manipulations of time, space, and reality.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Reznik said while the San Gabriel River system and adjacent spreading grounds, stretching from Irwindale to Long Beach, work exceptionally well, capturing 90% of the local runoff that percolates into underground basins for later use, that’s not true of some other waterways in the county.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
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The film centres on Karampour’s reunion with her brother Siâvash, formerly a vocalist in an Iranian underground punk band now living in exile in New York.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Even in the contemporary digital age, a significant portion of a publisher’s money remains tied up in stock and warehousing.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
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Set in contemporary London, Fuze unfolds after an unexploded World War II bomb is unearthed at a busy construction site, forcing a massive citywide evacuation.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Avant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avant. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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