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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of erstwhile
Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
The erstwhile quarterback for the Judases should just stay home with Madison Beer, his erstwhile girlfriend, maybe take in a movie.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
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
Adjective
Now Maduro sits in an American prison, and Venezuela is governed by his erstwhile second-in-command, Delcy Rodríguez, under a heavy American hand.
—Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2026
The erstwhile quarterback for the Judases should just stay home with Madison Beer, his erstwhile girlfriend, maybe take in a movie.
—Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Jan. 2026
Adverb
Candidates for the fifth spot include former postseason hero Ian Anderson, erstwhile All-Star Bryce Elder, and rookies AJ Smith-Shawver and Hurston Waldrep.
After winning a surprise world championship in 2021, the Braves had two 100-win seasons without reaching the final round again.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
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
Adjective
-
Later that year, federal prosecutors in New York charged the company’s former CEO Joanna Smith-Griffin, with securities fraud and related offenses tied to investor deception.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Charles Allen, the respected former chief executive of broadcaster ITV, resigned last week as chairman of the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), the sport’s governing body, which licences participants, oversees disciplinary procedures and enforces the rules.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
GFiber, formerly Google Fiber, revealed the news in a blog post, but no financial terms were disclosed.—
Michael Kan,
PC Magazine,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Critics include the Youth Peace & Justice Foundation, a non-profit formerly known as the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, which was formed in 2022 following the mass shooting of 19 children and two teachers a Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Jana Kostelic, Croatia’s 19-year-old skiing sensation, becomes the second youngest woman to win the overall World Cup title.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
And all eyes were on Ohtani once more — and for one final time — when his high fly ball landed in shortstop Ezequiel Tovar’s glove to seal Venezuela’s 8-5 win and eliminate Japan from the World Baseball Classic in the quarterfinals.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
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Queta, who reached the 20-point mark once in his career before Saturday, tallied 22 points before halftime without shooting once from outside the paint.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Boise State would hang around for the final two-minute period, which stretched to about 30 minutes of actual time, as both teams repeatedly sent each other to the free-throw line and called timeouts.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Mar. 2026
-
There also have been several deaths in other Gulf countries.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Erstwhile.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/erstwhile. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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