variants
also anachronic
as in obsolete
belonging to an earlier time period
The fashions that were all the rage just five years ago seem like anachronistic leftovers today.
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Recent Examples of anachronistic
The camera lingers on dripping egg yolks and squishy, bubbling dough; the protagonist, Cathy Earnshaw (played by Margot Robbie), must wade through pig’s blood on her way to the moors near her home, leaving a trim of viscera on her gorgeously anachronistic dress.
—
David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
The show has reveled in its intentionally anachronistic music, casting, and costume choices.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2026
But creator Chris Van Dusen, showrunner Jess Brownell, and their Shondaland team have consistently found ways to make their show’s anachronistic Regency setting more reflective of the world contemporary fans live in.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Google endured several embarrassing product debuts, when its Bard chatbot and then its successor Gemini models got facts wrong, recommended glue as a pizza topping, and generated images of historically anachronistic Black Nazis.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
Like these forerunners, the pleasures of Knight’s A Thousand Blows, which premiered all six episodes of its second season on Hulu Friday, lies in looking back on that thin sliver of time, about 15 years ago, when anachronistic old-timey crime was in vogue.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
While Lady Jane Grey's real historical reign was cut short by a wrongful execution, Emily Bader's anachronistic character skirts around the guillotine but is still roped into marrying Lord Guildford Dudley (Edward Bluemel) — an Ethian who transforms into a horse — and being crowned queen overnight.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Composer Daniel Lopatin spins an electronic score that hews more hedonistic Reagan-era ’80s than period-specific 1950s, with various songs of these two eras peppered throughout — this anachronistic but era-spanning soundtrack is perfectly attuned to the film’s themes.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
That was the barometer with me and Jen—timeless, timeless, timeless; no anachronistic faces.
—Jordan Hoffman, Vanity Fair, 25 Dec. 2025
David Sims, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2026
The show has reveled in its intentionally anachronistic music, casting, and costume choices.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2026
But creator Chris Van Dusen, showrunner Jess Brownell, and their Shondaland team have consistently found ways to make their show’s anachronistic Regency setting more reflective of the world contemporary fans live in.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Google endured several embarrassing product debuts, when its Bard chatbot and then its successor Gemini models got facts wrong, recommended glue as a pizza topping, and generated images of historically anachronistic Black Nazis.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
Like these forerunners, the pleasures of Knight’s A Thousand Blows, which premiered all six episodes of its second season on Hulu Friday, lies in looking back on that thin sliver of time, about 15 years ago, when anachronistic old-timey crime was in vogue.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
While Lady Jane Grey's real historical reign was cut short by a wrongful execution, Emily Bader's anachronistic character skirts around the guillotine but is still roped into marrying Lord Guildford Dudley (Edward Bluemel) — an Ethian who transforms into a horse — and being crowned queen overnight.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Composer Daniel Lopatin spins an electronic score that hews more hedonistic Reagan-era ’80s than period-specific 1950s, with various songs of these two eras peppered throughout — this anachronistic but era-spanning soundtrack is perfectly attuned to the film’s themes.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
That was the barometer with me and Jen—timeless, timeless, timeless; no anachronistic faces.
—Jordan Hoffman, Vanity Fair, 25 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anachronistic
Adjective
-
Conversely, Hickey brushed off the recent software stock rout that's been driven by investor fear that AI will suddenly make many software providers obsolete.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
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So the question of which ride is superior may soon be obsolete as more robotaxis take to the streets and more Austinites get a glimpse of a world without human drivers.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The hospitals struggled over the years under the company with inadequate staffing and antiquated equipment.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
-
New York City must overhaul our antiquated, closed primary system.—
Torsha Childs,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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His Chevy was one of three vintage American automobiles that US diplomats selected to be in the background for the flag raising ceremony at the US Embassy in Havana that marked the official restoration of ties between the two countries following decades of bitter animosity.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
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And through the dark, winding path of grief came a quaint, bright pink house nestled between a local home goods store and a vintage clothing shop on Parkville’s historic Main Street — creating a stark contrast from the deep sorrow Kincaid and her husband, Michael, felt inside.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There are five treatment rooms in total, and a traditional hammam is essential for the full Moroccan experience.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The album's eclectic throwback sound pays tribute to the singer's Boricua roots, incorporating traditional genres such as Plena, salsa and jibaro into his signature Latin urbano style.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Putin thought a window of opportunity had finally emerged, such that in those historical assessments Ukraine will follow from Afghanistan much as Poland in 1939 followed from Munich in 1938.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
-
While the property isn’t within walking distance of most historical sites, guests can rent bikes from local vendors (like Bike Nevis) or hire a taxi to get around.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The neighborhood/area Nestled along Pinney's Beach, the property sits just minutes from museums, plantation homes, and historic churches dating to the 1600s.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Missouri - Travelers can cross the historic Chain of Rocks bridge over the Mississippi River and explore underground cages.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anachronistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anachronistic. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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