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
The experts think fiat money is mature and serious and the gold standard cranky, weird, and atavistic.
—
Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atavistic
Adjective
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But Vermont, unfortunately, has a lot of archaic politics that allow a lot of abuse of wildlife.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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Innovations in new platforms and streaming services must provide greater accessibility and affordability while eliminating archaic rules that impede growth such as blackout restrictions.—
Wayne G. McDonnell,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Experience360 includes the museum’s popular holograms of survivors, immersive 360-degree films, as well as historical photographs and artifacts.—
Kelly Haramis,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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In northern Taipei, the Taiwanese capital, the island's National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine is a reminder of these clashing historical narratives.—
Jan Camenzind Broomby,
NPR,
2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The restaurant is housed in a cozy 1940s church that oozes old-world charm.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
3 Sep. 2025
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From their classic recipe with the old-world browned top and cookie-dough crust to bite-sized forms and more, don’t question this iconic institution’s take on the iconic New York food.—
Kristin L. Wolfe,
Forbes.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This has been attributed in part to surging loads from artificial intelligence data centers, as well as outmoded energy infrastructure.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
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For years, military theorists and political scientists have argued that airpower is overrated and, in some ways, outmoded.—
DAVID A. DEPTULA,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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But at 42-years-young, Verlander ended a game with a pitch count of 121 — a relic of a bygone era.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
31 Aug. 2025
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Guests feel transported to a bygone era while enjoying all the comforts of modern luxury.—
Cassidy Randall,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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While Canada plays host to fascinating megafauna spanning from the polar bear to the gray wolf to the muskox, there’s one park in particular that offers a deep dive into the nation’s prehistoric past.—
Jared Ranahan,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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According to Hamilton’s study, freely roaming bison in Yellowstone National Park—the only place in the lower 48 where bison have continuously free-ranged since prehistoric times—play a pivotal role in the ecosystem.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Airbnb co-founder @jgebbia is working with @DOGE to digitize the government's antiquated retirement process — which is literally housed in 22,000 filing cabinets in a Pennsylvania cave.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Sep. 2025
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Similarly, with the industry under fire, there’s a strong incentive to chip away at antiquated laws that mostly protect entrenched incumbents at the expense of consumers and business innovators.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Once a 19th-century military outpost, Fort Robinson now combines historic sites with miles of hiking and horseback trails.—
Iona Brannon,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Sep. 2025
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The historic new daytime drama Beyond the Gates has officially set its second crossover with one of its CBS sister series, and its first from The Bold and the Beautiful.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Atavistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavistic. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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