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antique

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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
In Tulane University's map archives, historian Blake Gilpin pointed to original antique maps that clearly mark the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico. Mark Strassmann, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2025 In 2022, Homewood set the record for most expensive day lift ticket in the U.S.: $279 for a single-day ticket to a homestyle ski hill with antique chairlifts, a mid-mountain pit toilet, and on-hill dining that requires you to microwave the chili yourself. Megan Michelson, Outside Online, 4 Apr. 2025
Noun
However, these small gains are undermined by plummeting profitability across most of the art and antiques market, as prices for virtually all aspects of the business, from shipping to rent, have increased. Kabir Jhala, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025 In the days following his discovery, Curtis was contacted by representatives from Sotheby's and Bonhams, both prestigious art and antiques businesses. Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for antique
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antique
Adjective
  • Accessible by boat, air, or an ancient Roman causeway that appears only at low tide, the sprawling 380-acre island compound is now on the market for £25 million (about $33.2 million) with Knight Frank and Fine & Country.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 1 May 2025
  • There, another ancient species disappeared long ago and left behind artifacts.
    Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • The tufted back and rolled arms are cushy but supportive, and the spindle legs give it plenty of vintage character.
    Shea Simmons, Southern Living, 26 Apr. 2025
  • For the 2024 Met, Moore stunned in a sculptural Harris Reed gown that was custom-made from vintage wallpaper.
    Catherine Santino, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Despite their rarity, the artifacts can help historians better understand and contextualize life in the region.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 24 Apr. 2025
  • As such, while its physical gold value is measurable, the artifact itself is considered priceless.
    Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • President Donald Trump had pursued one venerable D.C. firm, Covington & Burling, with an executive order that revoked security clearances for lawyers representing the former special counsel Jack Smith.
    Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Owens is only the third executive producer in the history of the venerable CBS newsmagazine, having taken over the program in 2019.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • That could be a piping hot or iced coffee, classic orange juice, a breakfast soda (no judgment), or even a retro carton of milk or apple juice.
    Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2025
  • This flattering duo not only elongates the legs, but also builds a vintage chic aesthetic that is irresistible to lovers of retro style with a contemporary twist.
    René Chávez Esparza, Glamour, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Holly Messinger, the textiles conservator at The Arabia Steamboat Museum, carefully laid out the pieces of a frock coat, an 1850’s relic recovered from the bottom of the Missouri River.
    Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2025
  • In evolutionary terms, Vasuki is a relic from a vanished world — a creature forged in solitude and set loose by tectonic chaos.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Ashford Castle – Ireland Originating from the 13th century, the magnificent Ashford Castle has a rich history, evolving from a medieval fortress to a grand luxury retreat adorned with antiques and artwork.
    Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The musician used the early medieval Irish alphabet Ogham to write two pro-Palestine messages on their body before their Eurovision semi-finals performance.
    Abby Monteil, Them., 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The historic anniversary commemorates the first act of the country's reunification on April 30, 1975 when Communist-run North Vietnam seized Saigon, the capital of the U.S.-backed South, renamed Ho Chi Minh City shortly after the war in honor of the North's founding leader.
    Minh Nguyen and Francesco Guarascio, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • Activists who championed it argued that Black students were uniquely positioned to fail due to long-standing racial inequalities in Chicago and the result of historic and ongoing discrimination in the United States.
    Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Antique.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antique. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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