Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective antiquated differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of antiquated are ancient, antique, archaic, obsolete, old, and venerable. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time.

antiquated teaching methods

Where would ancient be a reasonable alternative to antiquated?

The words ancient and antiquated are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

ancient accounts of dragons

When is it sensible to use antique instead of antiquated?

The words antique and antiquated can be used in similar contexts, but antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time.

collected antique Chippendale furniture

When is archaic a more appropriate choice than antiquated?

The meanings of archaic and antiquated largely overlap; however, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.

the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

When would obsolete be a good substitute for antiquated?

While in some cases nearly identical to antiquated, 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 can old be used instead of antiquated?

While the synonyms old and antiquated are close in meaning, 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 antiquated?

In some situations, the words venerable and antiquated are roughly equivalent. However, 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 antiquated With the internet and digital publishing, that gig is now considered antiquated. Jason Jones, New York Times, 1 May 2025 Frank Petrie, Moscow’s maintenance director, said heating is a challenge because of antiquated systems. Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Apr. 2025 In my world of provider directories—which include providers’ names, addresses, phone numbers and more—typical methods for updating data are antiquated and include things such as call campaigns, attestation from providers or their health groups and manual roster updates. Robert Lindner, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025 Remarkably, remnants of that antiquated mindset still persist in practice today in the State of Connecticut. Lisa Seminara, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for antiquated
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antiquated
Adjective
  • His work in building the Augment MBA program is a response to a problem many business schools don’t recognize: the risk of over-reliance on archaic frameworks instead of education in service of action.
    Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
  • Federal efforts would be better spent intervening, even by use of a consent decree, to dismantle an education system that locks poor, overwhelmingly minority students in archaic education bureaucracies based on their income and ZIP code.
    Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025
Adjective
  • And in this parish of 12,000 Catholics from more than 100 countries, those who make a living as interpreters fear their jobs will soon be obsolete.
    Motoko Rich, New York Times, 15 May 2025
  • As highlighted by McKinsey and the MIT Sloan School of Management, this distinction has become obsolete over the last few years with tech leaders now integral to business strategy, driving innovation and delivering value.
    Rosalba Carandente, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Visit the Picasso Museum Five conjoined medieval palaces with Catalan Gothic architecture house the Picasso Museum in the district El Born.
    Jennifer Fernández Solano, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • Delap’s cannon shoulders struck fear into a baffled division, like a medieval army who looked across the battlefield and realised that the opposing forces had technology far beyond theirs.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 22 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Antiquated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antiquated. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on antiquated

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