as in archaic
formal
very primitive
—used to describe feelings or qualities that human beings have had from the earliest times
atavistic instincts reverting to atavistic behavior
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Recent Examples of atavistic
To dismiss animism as ignorant, superstitious, or atavistic is to partake in modern parochialism, and this serves the interests of those who, like the tree’s killers, delight in destroying life.
—
Colin Cepuran, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Safdie perceptively locates the protagonist’s troubling inner contradictions—the atavistic fury that drives him to compete and the intense self-control that competition demands—but dramatizes such outer crises as opioid addiction and conflict with his girlfriend (Emily Blunt) only schematically.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Rather than conjuring a mood of bracing inexorability, this linear focus only suffocates what might be an interesting debate, as a man of the modern world weighs his values against those of a woman raised in atavistic isolation.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
The experts think fiat money is mature and serious and the gold standard cranky, weird, and atavistic.
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Colin Cepuran, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Safdie perceptively locates the protagonist’s troubling inner contradictions—the atavistic fury that drives him to compete and the intense self-control that competition demands—but dramatizes such outer crises as opioid addiction and conflict with his girlfriend (Emily Blunt) only schematically.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
Rather than conjuring a mood of bracing inexorability, this linear focus only suffocates what might be an interesting debate, as a man of the modern world weighs his values against those of a woman raised in atavistic isolation.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
The experts think fiat money is mature and serious and the gold standard cranky, weird, and atavistic.
—Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atavistic
Adjective
-
Those archaic teams did not have lofty expectations like the ones that featured Simmons.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Doubled down with odd and archaic roster construction.—
Jannelle Moore,
Mercury News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
But this island destination also boasts a walkable downtown, natural beauty, historical fort, top-notch golf courses, and a mix of both luxe resorts and quaint inns.—
Lisa A. Beach,
Southern Living,
10 May 2026
-
Kon Knueppel’s presence couldn’t spur the Charlotte Hornets to any historical luck.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
But at the 30-room Casa Cody, California’s quintessential old-world aesthetic is on full display.—
Christina Pérez,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
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These old-world, elegant beauties will thrive in many types of soil, but should be watered during long dry spells and prefer some protection from the afternoon sun.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Today, some of the most beloved musicals of the American theater can sometimes seem outmoded and vaguely inappropriate, since society’s standards have changed radically in the last 60 years.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
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But then, the fear that AI could render swaths of the software trade outmoded moved a wave of the savings-for-retirement crowd to demand their money back.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Farmers markets — that humble and charming throwback to a bygone era — are also struggling with higher fuel prices, after weathering the economic calamities of the pandemic and other misfortunes.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
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Why the Stars want Jamie Benn back In an era where loyalty is for losers and a relic from a bygone era, the Stars and Benn’s feelings for the other are old school.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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An unusual tooth found in a cave offers a rare glimpse into a surprising procedure prehistoric humans might have performed to fix a cavity 59,000 years ago.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
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In September 2023, UNESCO added Tell es-Sultan—a prehistoric site in Jericho—to its World Heritage List, drawing criticism from some far-right Israeli politicians and organizations.—
Tessa Solomon,
ARTnews.com,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Sitting on a worn wooden chair in the garden on a cool Tuesday afternoon, Chambers, 43, a professional glass and metalsmith, reflected on his antiquated strain of craftsmanship.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
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My plan also involves the demolition of the antiquated Men’s Central Jail (after a replacement is found).—
Sierra van der Brug,
Daily News,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Areas affected by historic buildings are mostly in the city’s urban core.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
The game started with a historic first quarter in which the home team scored 36 points, which marked the franchise’s highest-scoring first quarter since 2023, per the team.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atavistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavistic. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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