archaism

noun

Definition of archaismnext
as in throwback

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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 archaism That phrase, which may strike some young American ears as an archaism if not an oxymoron, is worth unpacking, and Amis provides readers with a pocket account of the historical preconditions of his extravagant fame. — A.o. Scott, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2018 For the Latin American left, that vision has congealed into archaism. — The Economist, 12 Oct. 2017 But the main challenge for any translator is to remain true to Virgil without wrenching him into archaism or stiffness. — Willard Spiegelman, WSJ, 22 Sep. 2017 Full of archaisms, the language has a neo-Nabokovian extravagance, occasionally overindulgent. — Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker, 13 Feb. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for archaism
  1. throwback
  2. anachronism
  3. antiquity
  4. ancientness
Noun
  • But not all throwback songs are having their stats algorithmically juked.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Russia has opted for the latter, a throwback to Soviet-era ways.
    — Fred Weir, Christian Science Monitor, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of throwback
Noun
  • Beyond the emotional acuity, much of the film’s ambitious methods can feel like an anachronism in 2026.
    — Bridget Arsenault, Vanity Fair, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Dreaming is every bit the delicious anachronism of its predecessors.
    — Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of anachronism
Noun
  • The shrine is the place where two ancient Jewish temples stood in antiquity, and it is considered by Jews to be the holiest spot on Earth.
    — Ilan Ben Zion, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 2026
  • On Tuesday, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) returned 22 antiquities to Greece.
    — Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of antiquity
Noun
  • Since war broke out in late February, the show in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia province, had grown increasingly popular, as interest surges among Chinese people in a nearby nation and culture that rivals their own in its depth and ancientness.
    — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 15 Apr. 2026
Definition of ancientness

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archaism
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Cite this Entry

“Archaism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/archaism. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on archaism

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about archaism

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