classical

adjective

ˈkla-si-kəl How to pronounce classical (audio)
Definition of classicalnext
1
as in traditional
based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation the classical preparation of a ham for Easter

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritative
being the most accurate and apparently thorough a writer celebrated for his classical profiles of eminent Victorians

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 classical The vibe here is all classical music and delicate service, with a menu made up of centuries old recipes (some favored by the Khmer royal family) and more modern twists on Khmer gastronomy. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026 Most of the costumes belonged to the classical period, a good thousand years after the Bronze Age world the poem supposedly describes. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 22 July 2026 Three Kathak dance performances merge Western orchestral scores with Indian classical dance, featuring performers Pranith AP, Palak Chauhan and Mudra IV, with choreography by Shrita Baskar. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 July 2026 Cook built the arch two decades ago, when resurrecting classical architecture in America was an eccentric idea. — Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for classical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for classical
  1. traditional
  2. authoritative
  3. customary
  4. classic
  5. conventional
Adjective
  • The Spanish artist Guitarricadelafuente, known for his modern-meets-traditional folk sounds, made his television debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live!
    — Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 23 July 2026
  • Beondegi, for example, is a traditional steamed silkworm pupae snack served by street vendors in paper cups.
    — Gawon Bae, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Definition of traditional
Adjective
  • The database serves as the government’s authoritative public record of war dead.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 24 July 2026
  • Institutions must determine which information sources are authoritative, establish processes for keeping content current, define ownership of knowledge across departments and create standards for how information is shared between systems.
    — Chase Williams, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of authoritative
Adjective
  • Some players were involved in a training camp in Marbella, Spain, the previous week, which has become customary at Arsenal in recent years for players to start building their fitness early.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 22 July 2026
  • The evidence primarily concerns coffee consumed in customary amounts (8-10 ounces).
    — Robert Glatter, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of customary
Adjective
  • For the first official day of the con, SDCC gave us reimaginings of classic tales.
    — Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • The classic, beachy dive bar right on Pacific Coast Highway in Sunset Beach was a familiar haunt for the Orange County native, but on this random Tuesday afternoon, Turcs was filled with an audience twice the 32-year-old’s age.
    — Josh Chesler, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of classic
Adjective
  • That stacks up against the 176 conventional seawalls permitted by Fort Lauderdale in the same window where the church applied for one, the church said.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • Purchase data confirmed a hypothesis that conventional epidemiology had to generate first, which is useful and which is a different job from finding the vendor.
    — John Drake, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of conventional

Browse Nearby Words

classic
classical
classicism
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Cite this Entry

“Classical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/classical. Accessed 28 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on classical

Nglish: Translation of classical for Spanish Speakers

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