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
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
The killer’s obsession with achieving glory isn’t the only element that feels startlingly modern, with anachronistic touches lending the series an unusual brio.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
Some conservative leaders have argued that the license fee system is anachronistic in the age of Netflix and Spotify.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
In a novel that is so alert to where climate change is leading the world, a narrative frame that illustrates migration as linear and largely redemptive feels anachronistic.
—Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
Nate the Hoof Guy’s videos are refreshingly anachronistic.
—Emma Veidt, Outside, 25 Oct. 2025
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
The killer’s obsession with achieving glory isn’t the only element that feels startlingly modern, with anachronistic touches lending the series an unusual brio.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
Some conservative leaders have argued that the license fee system is anachronistic in the age of Netflix and Spotify.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
In a novel that is so alert to where climate change is leading the world, a narrative frame that illustrates migration as linear and largely redemptive feels anachronistic.
—Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 8 Nov. 2025
Nate the Hoof Guy’s videos are refreshingly anachronistic.
—Emma Veidt, Outside, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anachronistic
Adjective
-
We are being billed based on an obsolete business model that privatizes the profits and socializes the costs.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Even in modern medicine, the practice isn’t obsolete; doctors sometimes apply live leeches after reconstructive surgery to keep blood from clotting in flaps of tissue.—
Blair Braverman,
Outside,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The pair led City to the Third Division title in May 1985, but triumph turned to tragedy on the final day of the season as the antiquated main stand caught fire with devastating consequences.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Insufferable antiquated federal standards reflect low expectations that do not meet the modern day needs of working New Yorkers.—
Gian Carlo Pedulla,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Classic dishes like cheese fondue, steaks and crème brûlée match the vintage look of the room, with its tassel gold chandeliers and red velvet bar chairs.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Jan. 2026
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Stretch Knit presents soft and lightweight pieces with a flattering drape, while the Ribbed Seamless collection offers soft, stretchy ribbed garments with a vintage wash and moisture-wicking technology.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This includes subtle feedback that traditional simulators often miss.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In the work, traditional folklore and marvelous, uncanny incidents are often the sites of resistance against colonialism or enslavement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
One film has dominated much of the season and shattered records, while the other carries an undercurrent of passion and historical weight that could resonate on a preferential Oscar ballot.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
7 Jan. 2026
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Others have expressed concern about nationalist rhetoric and disputes over historical memory, particularly regarding Hungary’s role in the Holocaust.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The deep freeze that changed Texas The February 2021 winter storm brought a historic arctic outbreak across Texas, with multiple rounds of snow and days of sustained subfreezing temperatures.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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McKee attended Catholic high school in Zanesville, a historic Ohio city about 55 miles east of the capital, according to the Diocese of Columbus.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anachronistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anachronistic. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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