obsolete

adjective

Save Word

ob·so·lete | \ ˌäb-sə-ˈlēt

, ˈäb-sə-ˌlēt\

Definition of obsolete

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : no longer in use or no longer useful an obsolete word

b : of a kind or style no longer current : old-fashioned an obsolete technology farming methods that are now obsolete

2 of a plant or animal part : indistinct or imperfect as compared with a corresponding part in related organisms : vestigial

obsolete

verb

ob·so·lete | \ ˌäb-sə-ˈlēt

, ˈäb-sə-ˌlēt\

obsoleted; obsoleting

Definition of obsolete (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to make (something) old-fashioned or no longer useful : make obsolete

Other Words from obsolete Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about obsolete

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for obsolete

Adjective

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 obsolete in a Sentence

Adjective It may not be welcome news in her home state of Pennsylvania, but chemist Cynthia Kuper could help make steel obsolete. Experimenting with carbon nanotubes, structures a few atoms wide but 100 times stronger and much lighter than steel, Kuper calls her work an "amusement park discovery." — Joanna Chung, Newsweek, 23 Sept. 2002 He exercised a right so rare, at this the fag-end of the century, as to be practically obsolete. The most fundamental right of all. The right to be the good guy. — Zadie Smith, White Teeth, 2000 I never had parents, really. My mom was gone, my dad was at work or with his girlfriends, we had baby-sitters. My parents were obsolete. — Jonathan Kozol, Voices From the Future, 1993 The system was made obsolete by their invention. I was told my old printer is obsolete and I can't get replacement parts. Verb While many … do describe various small, quick-loading 35mm film cartridges, modern technology has obsoleted these. — Herbert Keppler, Popular Photography, November 1993 … older cpu's whose speed and efficiency never were fully tapped before they were effectively obsoleted by their manufacturers … — Edith Myers, Datamation, November 1977 For radio itself deliberately obsoletes today what it built yesterday. — David Sarnoff, Television, 1936

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective The findings suggest that when their skills became obsolete, the IT workers who adjusted were thinking about the long term and were capable of learning by doing. — Michelle Cheng, Quartz at Work, "What happens to tech workers when their skills become obsolete?," 6 Sep. 2019 Corral said that Loudpack was once again rebranding its Kingpen vape in the hope of rendering counterfeiters obsolete, this time adding a code to the packaging that customers can scan on their phones to guarantee the product’s authenticity. — Los Angeles Times, "Counterfeit cannabis products stoke black market for California weed," 26 Aug. 2019 Although very obsolete in 2019, the Romeos make up a substantial portion of North Korea’s large submarine fleet. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "A Closer Look at North Korea's "New" Missile Submarine," 23 July 2019 Most became obsolete by the early 1900s, but many remain in place. — John Laidler, BostonGlobe.com, "For dam on Hanover/Norwell line, the days are numbered," 4 July 2019 Moreover, schedules become obsolete with inflation and fluctuations in world prices and exchange rates. — Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, "Real World Economics: Time to explain the basics of trade," 15 Sep. 2019 The role of creative destruction in raising long-term living standards, partly by shrinking obsolete industries and redeploying resources to new ones, is downplayed. — The Economist, "Nicholas Lemann traces the history of American corporations," 14 Sep. 2019 Erika Harrsch fashions obsolete paper currency, replaced by the euro, into origami butterfly specimens. — Washington Post, "In the galleries: The heady works of Soriano at OAS Art Museum of the Americas," 13 Sep. 2019 One day a toddler suffered a concussion after falling from the school’s obsolete climbing gym. — Steve Rubenstein, SFChronicle.com, "Work is child’s play as Napa volunteer, 92, keeps building swings and slides," 30 Aug. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Why would SpaceX want to obsolete its own, dominant products? — Eric Berger, Ars Technica, "Block 5 rocket launch marks the end of the beginning for SpaceX," 3 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'obsolete.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.