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
-
The very details that make the genre come alive—the archaic syntax, the outfits, the feelings—are the ones that haven’t survived into the present day or that the writer made up.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
This rule has evolved, though it’s not considered completely archaic.—
Wendy Rose Gould,
Martha Stewart,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Butlers here are called Aris Meehas, a historical Maldivian reference to someone assigned to serve royalty—thankfully, interactions are more easy-going than overly deferential.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
These reforms stripped the dominant Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of its historical control of the regional government, driving it into active opposition.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
Rather than leaning into the city’s old-world roots, however, the hotel went for an industrial-modern design palette.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Situated in the Auteil neighborhood of the 16th arrondissement (a locale known for its quiet sense of luxury), the home offers soaring ceilings, a grand hallway, and accessible balcony that give this property an old-world feel.—
Madeline Weinfield,
Architectural Digest,
29 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
-
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
-
The rules are a relic of a bygone era, when barbers originated as a branch of surgeons; the same people who were supposed to cut hair were also expected to cut other body parts.—
Eric Zamparripa,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
The distressed wrought iron will only look better with time, and the scrollwork details and trellis chair backs add a sense of romance from a bygone era.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Europe is home to some of the most iconic ancient ruins on the planet, from prehistoric stone circles to entire Roman cities frozen in time.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
3 June 2026
-
This is quintessential Alberta—a place where Indigenous traditions breathe life into the land, where artistry ignites the soul, and where prehistoric treasures foster unwavering connections.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
The technology was largely depicted as a portal to the future, a tonic for the ailing Los Angeles production sector, and a way to finally wriggle free from the bonds of antiquated studio protocols.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
31 May 2026
-
When leaders continue applying old frameworks to environments that no longer behave predictably, the result can show up as misaligned outcomes, antiquated processes, and teams that stop telling the truth.—
Mary Hemphill,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
Among the most renowned establishments is Salon Corona, a restaurant and brewery in Mexico City’s historic center.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
-
During Black History Month (February) and Women’s History Month (March), the foundation also leads specific tours with a narrow focus on the historic contributions of each group.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Atavistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavistic. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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