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noun

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When is obsolete a more appropriate choice than ancient?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
The Isle of Skye holds the key to ancient species. Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025 The Klau Library holds more than 3,500 manuscripts and thousands of rare books and ancient texts. Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
Read More: These 5 Ancient Civilizations Treasured Their Pets Coping with Critters The discovery of archeological remains has helped scientists better understand how ancients coped with bothersome critters. 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
  • Make a beeline for the Pinacoteca di Brera, the venerable art museum containing paintings by masters like Raphael and Caravaggio.
    Laura Itzkowitz, AFAR Media, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Season 10 finds the venerable Captain Sandy Yawn navigating the shores of Spain with a handful of familiar faces by her side.
    Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The open North Rim camping at Fire Point and Swamp Ridge, is primitive and requires a backcountry permit.
    Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 1 Oct. 2025
  • The Chinese navy already makes port calls in Myanmar, but these are brief stays in facilities too primitive to provide naval advantage.
    Dan Swift, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Seek wisdom from mentors, elders, or even the younger version of yourself who still believed in magic.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Oct. 2025
  • When personalities from within the game — sports directors, coaches, journalists, esteemed elders — appear on programming adjacent to the Bundesliga or the national team (Sport1’s Doppelpass, for instance), strong opinions and disagreements are par for the course.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • This 30+ vendor antique mall, located 10 minutes away in Stuarts Draft, Virginia, features an eclectic mix of antiques, collectibles, and vintage clothing.
    Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 30 Sep. 2025
  • La Chic Boutique Sandpoint has a tempting variety of antique stores and vintage shops, and both Evans and Caso mention one in particular.
    Laura Beausire, Travel + Leisure, 30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • People only 21 years or older are allowed to shop at Canna Bloom.
    Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Its image is painted on ancient Southwestern pottery and chiseled into prehistoric petroglyphs that line Texas canyons.
    Hollace Ava Weiner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
  • From the Elgol dinosaur to the Krusatodon or the world’s largest pterosaur fossil from the Jurassic period, fossils found here have shaped our understanding of the prehistoric world.
    Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • There were bleachers for spectators, food trucks, a band playing live music, the Indy500 Gordon Pipers playing bagpipes, a kids zone and a beer garden for the adults.
    Keenan Thompson, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Roughly 33% of adult Arkansans are currently showing signs of alcohol use disorder.
    Daniel McFadin, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Bettany played English poet and writer Geoffrey Chaucer in the medieval action-comedy, which starred Ledger as William Thatcher, a peasant squire, fueled by his desire for food and glory, who forges a new identity for himself as a knight when his master dies.
    Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The movie was set in medieval times, and blended action, comedy and modern pop culture.
    Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ancient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancient. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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