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noun

as in artifact
something belonging to or surviving from an earlier period their house is filled with rare antiques, including a collection of 19th-century African masks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective antique differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of antique are ancient, antiquated, archaic, obsolete, old, and venerable. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time.

collected antique Chippendale furniture

In what contexts can ancient take the place of antique?

The words ancient and antique 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 antiquated a more appropriate choice than antique?

The words antiquated and antique can be used in similar contexts, but antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time.

antiquated teaching methods

When might archaic be a better fit than antique?

In some situations, the words archaic and antique are roughly equivalent. 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 antique?

The meanings of obsolete and antique largely overlap; however, 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 antique?

While the synonyms old and antique are close in meaning, old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

old houses
an old sweater of mine

When is it sensible to use venerable instead of antique?

The synonyms venerable and antique 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 antique
Adjective
Choosing timeless, antique pieces with elegant lines and classic silhouettes is the most authentic way to incorporate a touch of French appeal into your space. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 May 2025 Her kitchen had slate stone tile and an antique wooden table in the middle with drawers all around it. Nicole Stanton, Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2025
Noun
It’s also filled with memorabilia, antiques and artifacts, often donated by customers wanting to share their memories of living in England. Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 20 May 2025 The main villa sports five bedrooms and five full bathrooms, with stonework, hardwoods, and antiques throughout. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for antique
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antique
Adjective
  • Casablanca has opened its first stand-alone store at 62 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, and is shaking up the neighborhood with a colorful, youthful energy and interiors inspired by ancient Greece, Japan and the game of tennis.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 6 June 2025
  • For example, the presence of clay minerals indicates past interactions between volcanic materials and water, hinting at the possibility of ancient habitable environments, according to the statement.
    Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • Our destination was Cuyama Buckhorn, a roadside motel that in recent years has been made over into a stylish resort with vintage flourishes, such as bocce courts and firepits ideal for roasting s’mores.
    David Amsden, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2025
  • Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Judy Garland are back on TV Oct. 12, 2015 The enduring success of the series, set in the frontier town of Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, demonstrates how every new evolution of video consumption can unlock the value of beloved vintage titles.
    Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • Eight cultural artifacts, including six ceramic jugs and two bottles, were recovered in a surprise operation at the Chiclayo Model Market in the Lambayeque, according to a June 11 news release from Peru’s Ministry of Culture.
    Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 12 June 2025
  • During their excavations, the scientists also found several artifacts, including charcoal and fragments of broken ceramics.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • Among the entities helping spark such experiences is Sage, one of New York City’s most venerable owner-operators of premium office space, and a fourth-generation company that has withstood the volatile ups and downs of the office market for more than a century.
    Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • The venerable organization honored the exec at its spring gala alongside illustrious New York native and Severance star John Turturro.
    Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 10 June 2025
Adjective
  • The series is based on the popular Bethesda Game Studios games and features a post-apocalyptic wasteland of a retro American West.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 5 June 2025
  • Product Details: Material: Crystal | Capacity: 10.5 ounces | Number of Glasses in Set: Four Best Coupe Champagne Glasses Bring retro glamour to your bar cart with the help of the Wolcott Optic coupe from Crate & Barrel.
    Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • Without a clear plan, Soldier Field risks becoming a costly relic — an iconic venue with no clear purpose.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2025
  • For him, the music can sometimes feel like a relic from a lost era: a time when Philly was both vibrant and affordable.
    Tyler Hicks, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • Seton Hall Prep: Sweeney’s father had been a professor of medieval English at Seton Hall University.
    Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
  • The new study, published in Antiquity, suggests that this wall was an important part of frontier life and provides a more complex picture of society in medieval Mongolia.
    Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 29 May 2025
Adjective
  • Your town may have a trash pickup walk, a Thanksgiving turkey trot or a stroll to historic sites.
    Elizabeth Passarella, New York Times, 6 June 2025
  • No, something far more historic was happening that day.
    Patrick Salland, Kansas City Star, 5 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Antique.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antique. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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