Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective archaic differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of archaic are ancient, antiquated, antique, obsolete, old, and venerable. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.

the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

When could ancient be used to replace archaic?

The meanings of ancient and archaic largely overlap; however, ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

ancient accounts of dragons

In what contexts can antiquated take the place of archaic?

The words antiquated and archaic can be used in similar contexts, but 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 archaic?

Although the words antique and archaic have much in common, antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time.

collected antique Chippendale furniture

When is obsolete a more appropriate choice than archaic?

While in some cases nearly identical to archaic, 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 archaic?

The words old and archaic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

old houses
an old sweater of mine

Where would venerable be a reasonable alternative to archaic?

The synonyms venerable and archaic 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 archaic 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 In March, President Donald Trump invoked the archaic Alien Enemies Act to disappear over 100 Venezuelan immigrants to a megaprison in El Salvador. Juan Vargas, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 May 2025 There are many underlying reasons for this problem, but the archaic and misaligned compensation policies deployed by many European public companies are certainly a major contributor. Alexander Savin, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025 This archaic jaw is a key trait of hell ants, an extinct group in the subfamily Haidomyrmecinae that lived during the Cretaceous period, between 66 million and 145 million years ago. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for archaic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archaic
Adjective
  • In an effort to address some of those worries, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced plans to overhaul the antiquated telecommunications, radio and surveillance systems.
    Vanessa Romo, NPR, 14 May 2025
  • Leaks from this antiquated sewer system are polluting Rock Creek and threaten the public health of all those who come in contact with it.
    Dan Gooding Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • 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
  • 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
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
Adjective
  • The existence of any prehistoric apex predators in the islands of the Caribbean used to be doubted.
    Ashley Belanger – May 16, ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
  • The original show gave the prehistoric reptiles the nature documentary treatment, offering glimpses of a world that was ruled by dinosaurs millions of years ago through the magic of CGI and animatronics.
    Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Archaic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archaic. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

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