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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 Cameroonian painter Marc Padeu is reimagining classical Western paintings by infusing them with inspiration from his hometown. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 11 Aug. 2026 Accompanied by an ethereal score of classical organ and choral music, Iron Boy is a delicately transporting story of a young boy’s emergence into individuality, and a family film of rare nuance. — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026 Coming up from a rough childhood with an absent father and addicted mother, Vanity Fair reported, Shakur combined a love of hip-hop and other performing arts with classical poetry and Shakespeare. — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026 The latest demonstration also builds on QC Ware’s previous research into hybrid quantum-classical chemistry. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for classical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for classical
  1. traditional
  2. authoritative
  3. customary
  4. classic
  5. conventional
Adjective
  • Despite a bear market, Schwab responded to client demand for consolidating crypto alongside traditional investments.
    — Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The secret mission was carried out without the knowledge of members of the press traveling with the president and even some White House officials who were still aboard the old traditional Air Force One.
    — Isabella Murray, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of traditional
Adjective
  • Users implicitly will take what an AI tells them to be authoritative.
    — David Berreby, IEEE Spectrum, 13 Aug. 2026
  • That entity layer is Wikipedia, Wikidata, schema markup on the executive's own pages, and structured references from authoritative outlets.
    — Ronn Torossian, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of authoritative
Adjective
  • The elder, Alamagan, attempts to resolve the conflict through customary law and religious counsel, but the absence of truth fractures the community.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The village elder fails to resolve the case via customary law and religious counsel.
    — John Hopewell, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of customary
Adjective
  • For some residents who live along Woodward Avenue, the annual event is less about classic cars and more about the noise.
    — Terell Bailey, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The Florida resort also spruced up classic favorite attractions, like Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, while giving a new Muppets theme to its old Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of classic
Adjective
  • However, beneath the park lies an enormous volcanic system capable of producing eruptions far larger than those associated with conventional volcanoes.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
  • The announcement was striking for the governor, who once supported conventional electric vehicles but then turned on them, becoming increasingly hostile to policies designed to encourage EV adoption.
    — Emily L. Mahoney, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 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 18 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on classical

Nglish: Translation of classical for Spanish Speakers

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