antediluvian 1 of 2

adjective

ˌan-ti-də-ˈlü-vē-ən How to pronounce antediluvian (audio)
Definition of antediluviannext
as in ancient
dating or surviving from the distant past found evidence in the Middle East of an antediluvian people previously unknown to history

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

antediluvian

2 of 2

noun

as in conservative
a person with old-fashioned ideas thought his dad was an antediluvian for refusing to use any social media

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 antediluvian
Adjective
This antediluvian town knows — and that, too, is part of its multimillion-dollar charm — that in a world of rapidly upgrading software and all-subsuming artificial intelligence, natural wisdom must be nurtured and celebrated. — Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 3 Dec. 2025 Not a bad start, definitely auspicious, which makes the antediluvian inspirations behind these sparkling party dresses all the more mysterious. — Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes.com, 15 June 2025 Image Still, Professor Bogdanor said, the antediluvian nature of the Lords eroded faith in government generally, particularly among young people. — Mark Landler, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2024 Eliminating antediluvian student loan debts held by vulnerable older adults seems both just and good public policy. — Next Avenue, Forbes, 11 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for antediluvian
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antediluvian
  1. ancient
  2. conservative
  3. venerable
  4. fossil
  5. medieval
  6. fogy
  7. old
  8. veteran
Adjective
  • Archeologists identify it as ancient Samaria, capital of the biblical Kingdom of Israel.
    — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • Outside of learning about ancient concentration camps and historic serial killers while Phaedra beams, the moment without Porsha serves as a Hail Mary pass for Shamea to try to salvage some of the damage from the night before.
    — Ile-Ife Okantah, Vulture, 20 July 2026
Definition of ancient
Noun
  • Lawsuit attacks diversity efforts The lawsuit comes amid a broader crackdown on diversity initiatives nationwide as conservatives argue similar programs treat white people unfairly.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
  • The ruling, which applied only in Texas, was seen as an opening for conservatives to challenge similar laws across the country.
    — Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 23 July 2026
Definition of conservative
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
Noun
  • But there were plenty of amenities to point out—the massage rooms and nap pods, the dinosaur fossil, the wacky sensory-break touches like ball pits, swings, and yoga balls (even if no one actually seemed to use them).
    — Claire Stapleton, New Yorker, 18 July 2026
  • That record sale was a Stegosaurus fossil named Apex, which measures around 27 feet in length.
    — Michael Smith, USA Today, 18 July 2026
Definition of fossil
Adjective
  • In medieval literature the dragon’s refusal to share its wealth symbolizes chaos, greed, and the social harm caused when valuable resources are removed from circulation.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
  • The town served as a Genoese naval outpost during the medieval rivalry with Pisa, and the hotel’s arched colonnades of the original cloister still stand atop rooms that face Palmaria Island or the Gulf itself.
    — Jason Phillips, USA Today, 22 July 2026
Definition of medieval
Noun
  • There’s no old fogey-ness to Lorne.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
  • For the benefit of us old fogies?
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
Definition of fogy
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
Noun
  • Disability spans every age, race, culture and socioeconomic background, and investment in accessibility and inclusive programming tends to ripple outward, improving experiences for older adults, veterans, families and caregivers along the way.
    — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The Panthers had already moved to protect themselves on the left side, signing veteran tackle Rasheed Walker in March as a potential replacement for Ekwonu.
    — Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of veteran

Browse Nearby Words

antedating
antediluvian
antediluvians
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Antediluvian.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antediluvian. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of parochial

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Every Letter Is Silent, Sometimes: A-Z List of Examples
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
chain-question-mark
Missing Link Quiz July 2026 Five seconds to figure out the word that fits bot...
See All