ANCIENT Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'ancient' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ancient are antiquated , antique , archaic , obsolete , old , and venerable . While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past. // ancient accounts of dragons

Q: When can 'antiquated' be used instead of 'ancient'?

The meanings of antiquated and ancient largely overlap; however, antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time. // antiquated teaching methods

Q: When is it sensible to use 'antique' instead of 'ancient'?

Although the words antique and ancient have much in common, antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time. // collected antique Chippendale furniture

Q: When could 'archaic' be used to replace 'ancient'?

The words archaic and ancient are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time. // the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

Q: When is 'obsolete' a more appropriate choice than 'ancient'?

While the synonyms obsolete and ancient are close in meaning, 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

Q: When would 'old' be a good substitute for 'ancient'?

The words old and ancient can be used in similar contexts, but old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence. // old houses // an old sweater of mine

Q: When might 'venerable' be a better fit than 'ancient'?

The synonyms venerable and ancient are sometimes interchangeable, but venerable stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age. // the family's venerable patriarch

ancient 1 of 2

adjective

ˈān(t)-shənt

Definition of ancient

as in venerable

dating or surviving from the distant past Rome's ancient ruins remain carefully preserved even in the midst of the bustle of the modern city

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as in older

being of advanced years and especially past middle age used to think that age 40 was ancient until I turned 40 myself

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as in primitive

relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period the ancient Inca built a vast network of roads

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ancient

2 of 2

noun

as in elder

a person of advanced years ancients in the tribe are accorded great respect and valued for their wisdom

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ancient differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ancient are antiquated, antique, archaic, obsolete, old, and venerable. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

ancient accounts of dragons

When can antiquated be used instead of ancient?

The meanings of antiquated and ancient largely overlap; however, antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time.

antiquated teaching methods

When is it sensible to use antique instead of ancient?

Although the words antique and ancient have much in common, antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time.

collected antique Chippendale furniture

When could archaic be used to replace ancient?

The words archaic and ancient are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.

the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

When is obsolete a more appropriate choice than ancient?

While the synonyms obsolete and ancient are close in meaning, 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

When would old be a good substitute for ancient?

The words old and ancient can be used in similar contexts, but old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

old houses

an old sweater of mine

When might venerable be a better fit than ancient?

The synonyms venerable and ancient are sometimes interchangeable, but venerable stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age.

the family's venerable patriarch

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of ancient

Adjective

After looking at each tile, walk along the Ribeira waterfront, then cross the river to Vila Nova de Gaia for a glass of port wine in any of its ancient warehouses. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 20 July 2026 British artist Philip Colberthas installed 36 giant lobster sculptures among Pompeii’s ancient ruins, creating a surreal mash-up of pop art and Roman history inspired by a 2,000-year-old lobster mosaic found at the site. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 20 July 2026

Noun

Whereas modern extermination tends to involve poisons or traps that a professional later clears, ancients had to take on pests one by one. — Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025 No full moons, no silver bullets, no ancients curses and the like, just a title card at the beginning of the film stating that wolf man sightings have been a phenomenon since indigenious peoples ruled the Americas. — Scott Phillips, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ancient

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancient

Adjective

The venerable soul food restaurant is a tourist destination in its own right, with six dining rooms and capacity for 300 guests.

— Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 11 July 2026
This second installment represents the venerable anthology franchise’s height of humor, invention, and variety.

— Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 July 2026

Definition of venerable

Adjective

Unlike my original e-bike, the Huffy includes metal fenders, a metal chain guard, and a battery that can charge in or out of the bike - all for a third of the price of my old bike.

— William Roberson, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Tyler James Feehan shared memories of the 25-year-old who was killed on July 17 as a result of Iranian strikes on Jordan.

— Arpita Dasika, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Definition of old

Adjective

After observation, scientists learned the meteorite was a CM1/2 carbonaceous chondrite -- an exceptionally rare and primitive type of meteorite, according to a paper published in Science Advances on Wednesday.

— Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 17 July 2026
There are two types of primitive CM meteorites — CM1 and CM2 — and the biggest difference between them is how much water altered their composition while they were attached to a larger asteroid.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 15 July 2026

Definition of primitive

Noun

Or maybe the Medicare and Medicaid benefits that have been cut, leaving our elders unable to afford care and medicine?

— Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 13 July 2026
Then everyone—women, children, elders—search the ground with sticks and collect the walnuts.

— KATHERINE ROCHESTER, Artforum, 10 July 2026

Definition of elder

Adjective

Coupled with the pair’s extensive collection of antique furniture, the result is a shockingly precocious home, one that is mature beyond its years.

— Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 20 July 2026
In recent years, Sestri Levante has gained recognition for its efforts to preserve the leudo, an antique Ligurian vessel, dating from the Middle Ages, that was once used to transport food and wine.

— Catherine Sabino, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of antique

Adjective

While the area was formerly covered by prehistoric lakes, today the water here mainly exists as seasonal wetlands, gurgling geysers, hot springs, and a hypersaline lake that’s saltier than the ocean.

— Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026
The species has remained unchanged since prehistoric times, finding ways to survive while other species became extinct, according to the San Diego Zoo.

— Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 16 July 2026

Definition of prehistoric

Noun

There are also annual membership options, as adults can pay $300 for the year, seniors pay $200 and youngsters pay $75.

— Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 22 July 2026
But officials are much more concerned about the fur seal’s larger cousin, the New Zealand sea lion, of which there thought to be fewer than 5,000 mature adults.

— Todd Symons, CNN Money, 22 July 2026

Definition of adult

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“Ancient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancient. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of ancient

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