antiquated

adjective

an·​ti·​quat·​ed ˈan-tə-ˌkwā-təd How to pronounce antiquated (audio)
Synonyms of antiquatednext
1
: outmoded or discredited by reason of age : old and no longer useful, popular, or accepted
antiquated ideas
antiquated methods of farming
antiquated machinery
antiquated slang
2
: obsolete
an antiquated calendar
3
: advanced in age
Choose the Right Synonym for antiquated

old, ancient, venerable, antique, antiquated, archaic, obsolete mean having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past.

old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

old houses
an old sweater of mine

ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

ancient accounts of dragons

venerable stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age.

the family's venerable patriarch

antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time.

collected antique Chippendale furniture

antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time.

antiquated teaching methods

archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.

the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

obsolete may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence.

a computer that makes earlier models obsolete

Examples of antiquated in a Sentence

He has some pretty antiquated opinions about politics. saw an antiquated hand-cranked rope-making machine at the textiles museum
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But that idea is an antiquated one, at least according to home organizing expert Shira Gill. Tessa Cooper, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026 Dust ruffles may have gone the way of the dodo after their heyday in the maximalist ’80s, but the absolute best bed skirts (done up in cottagecore ginghams and frothy sateens and linens) are putting the antiquated bed dressing back on the map. Shoko Wanger, Architectural Digest, 20 Jan. 2026 At the heart of the administrative deficiencies isn’t malfeasance, as opponents want to portray it, but rather antiquated technology systems and data governance standards that aren’t keeping pace with the changing parental choice landscape. Patricia Levesque, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026 The store owner has claimed that village officials targeted her business because of its political leanings, while arguing that its municipal rules were overburdensome as well as antiquated. Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for antiquated

Word History

Etymology

see antiquate

First Known Use

1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of antiquated was in 1587

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Antiquated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antiquated. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

antiquated

adjective
an·​ti·​quat·​ed
ˈant-ə-ˌkwāt-əd
1
2
: old-fashioned sense 1, outmoded
antiquated methods of farming
3
: advanced in age

More from Merriam-Webster on antiquated

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!