ELDERLY Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

elderly

adjective

ˈel-dər-lē

Definition of elderly

as in older

being of advanced years and especially past middle age elderly people who stay active are usually the healthiest and the happiest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 elderly An elderly woman in a proper ink-black dress and modest, sensible heels motioned us over and led us down the aisle, inviting us to sit in the pair of waiting chairs just opposite the pulpit. — Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026 After her elderly neighbor dies, however, Julia’s life is upturned. — Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 29 Sep. 2026 An elderly couple was arrested in connection with the shooting death of their son-in-law, a director for the New York Times' games division, over the weekend in California, police said. — Ivan Pereira, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 Authorities southwest of the Twin Cities say the driver who crashed into an elderly couple, killing one of them, had 27 open containers of alcohol scattered inside his car. — Wcco Staff, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for elderly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for elderly

Adjective

But many eye creams simply hydrate without any real anti-aging benefits, and searching for a star formula can get pricey fast.

— Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026
SwRI plans to expand the EII to other battery chemistries, cell formats and application areas, while also examining how aging, degradation and thermal management affect interchangeability.

— Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of aging

Adjective

Recently, a middle-aged woman came to see me in my ophthalmology clinic because her eyes felt gritty and uncomfortable.

— Joshua R. Ehrlich, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026
That kind of thing must happen all the time to Keanu Reeves, but few directors—especially middle-aged Polish directors—can be guaranteed the same treatment.

— Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of aged

Adjective

The 30-year-old actress, who was named the Chinese brand ambassador for Kors last March, made her acting debut at 10 and has played numerous roles in historical, fantasy and romantic dramas.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
The backstory Wynn Las Vegas opened in 2005 on the site of the old Desert Inn, with Encore following in 2008; the big move was pulling spectacle inside instead of giving it away free at the curb.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of old

Browse Nearby Words

elderliness

elderly

elders

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Elderly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/elderly. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of elderly

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on elderly

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tittle

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Oct. 2

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes