erstwhile 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of erstwhilenext
as in former
having been such at some previous time my erstwhile friend ignored me when I ran into her at the reunion

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

erstwhile

2 of 2

adverb

ˈərst-ˌ(h)wī(-ə)l How to pronounce erstwhile (audio)
as in formerly
at an earlier or previous time there's now a store where erstwhile lay green and pleasant pastures

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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 erstwhile
Adjective
Giuffre died by suicide last year, but, three years prior, the erstwhile prince had settled her civil suit against him. — Niall Stanage, The Hill, 28 Apr. 2026 With input from food historian Pushpesh Pant, chef Vijay Sahi has designed three tasting menus that reimagine the culinary whims of the erstwhile royals from across India. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Adverb
That places an extra burden on holdovers Chris Sale, Spencer Strider, and Reynaldo Lopez, erstwhile All-Stars who had their own injury issues last year. — Dan Schlossberg, Forbes.com, 18 Feb. 2026 In South Africa’s middle class suburban areas, including Randburg, where there’s more visible policing, lockdown measures are being tightly enforced, leaving several erstwhile busy stalls and shopping areas empty. — Quartz Africa, 4 Apr. 2020 See All Example Sentences for erstwhile
Recent Examples of Synonyms for erstwhile
  1. former
  2. formerly
  3. old
  4. once
  5. other
Adjective
  • She’s hired a former Georgia Supreme Court chief justice as a special prosecutor to get the state’s appellate courts to weigh in.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Among the players involved in the Georgia case are former Clemson and Georgia forward RJ Godfrey, former UCF forward Jamichael Stillwell and former Georgia Tech guard Lamar Washington.
    — Zachary Bynum, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of former
Adverb
  • To date, Carlos Cordeiro, formerly Infantino’s senior advisor, is the only high-profile official to have quit.
    — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Both men were formerly enslaved and had completed a course of theological training based on the Anglican tradition in Bombay (Mumbai) in preparation for the priesthood.
    — Stephanie TriplettAll, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of formerly
Adjective
  • The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Jeanine John Taele, was spotted by plainclothes federal agents who observed odd behavior and subsequently contacted the Lomita Sheriff Department deputies.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Aug. 2026
  • In honor of the upcoming movie, the All Roads Lead to Camp bus is touring across the country and bringing fans, new and old, into the world of Camp Rock, PEOPLE previously revealed exclusively.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of old
Adverb
  • Hallegua is a Paradesi Jew, the once-dominant group whose fair-skinned, Sephardic ancestors from Spain and Portugal fled the Spanish Inquisition in the 16th century.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • What that broader discussion still doesn't answer is where purpose actually comes from once work begins to change.
    — Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of once
Adjective
  • The service Casually buttoned-up and (like many other things at this property) classic New York, with concierge and servers always ready to lend a hand—but without fussing over anything.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Aug. 2026
  • While plenty of chic boots are obviously on her radar, her seasonal collection includes a range of other styles, too, like sneakers, loafers, and flats.
    — Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of other

Browse Nearby Words

ersatz
erstwhile
eruct
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“Erstwhile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erstwhile. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of erstwhile for Spanish Speakers

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