AVANT-GARDES Synonyms: 11 Similar and Opposite Words

avant-gardes

noun

plural of avant-garde

as in vanguards

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

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for avant-gardes

Noun

The great technological leaps in American history have often featured influential industrialists who step forward as vanguards, leading the way to a better tomorrow while emerging as major players in extreme endeavors.

— Jeff Spry, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026
The once-insurgent vanguards who cast their first votes for Barack Obama have relinquished their cool factor to Gen Z, who will one day undergo the same process themselves as time continues its relentless march forward.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026

Definition of vanguards

Noun

The festival also gave a nod to some of the industry’s women pioneers, such as Bikini Kill and Garbage.

— Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 30 Aug. 2026
Translated, Huang’s immense fortune will eventually pale by comparison to those that will follow from entrepreneurs building on his and other AI pioneers’ broad shoulders.

— John Tamny, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of pioneers

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.

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avant-garde

avant-gardes

avant-gardist

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“Avant-gardes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/avant-gardes. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of avant-gardes

noun

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