fossilized

adjective

ˈfä-sə-ˌlīzd How to pronounce fossilized (audio)
Definition of fossilizednext
as in archaic
having passed its time of use or usefulness fossilized notions about the proper place of women in society

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 fossilized Scientists recently uncovered fossilized jawbones of Nanaimoteuthis haggarti – a massive, kraken-like octopus that roamed Earth about 72 million years ago. — Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 4 June 2026 How fitting, then, that a primitive predator from five hundred and sixty million years ago, a fossilized example of which was discovered near where the young David grew up, should have been named Auroralumina attenboroughii in his honor. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 8 May 2026 Analysis of zinc isotopes preserved in fossilized shark teeth, published in Nature Communications in 2022, found that when great white sharks and megalodon coexisted during the Pliocene, their diets overlapped significantly, both feeding high up the same food chain on marine mammals. — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 June 2026 The Giant Octopus Fossil That Unlocked Everything The discovery is based on giant octopus fossil evidence — specifically, fossilized beaks (jaws), which are the only hard parts of an octopus’s body and the only parts likely to survive over millions of years. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fossilized
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fossilized
  1. archaic
  2. obsolete
  3. antiquated
  4. prehistoric
  5. medieval
Adjective
  • The Spanish is archaic, the intonations are complicated, and the words tumble over themselves like a hard charge toward the goal posts.
    — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 June 2026
  • For golf cart operators, that evolution absolutely begins by ditching archaic lead-acid relics engineered for a bygone era.
    — Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 24 June 2026
Definition of archaic
Adjective
  • My role as documentarian, gatekeeper, and distributor of memories was becoming obsolete.
    — Derek C. Blasberg, Vanity Fair, 7 July 2026
  • But after a century, changing technology had rendered the works obsolete.
    — Jeff Chu, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026
Definition of obsolete
Adjective
  • By wrapping antiquated infrastructure in agentic interfaces, these workers can unlock near-native operational efficiency without a risky, catastrophic core system overhaul.
    — Barney Krishnan, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • But what, exactly, is that robot doing watching fireworks next to a little boy and a man in antiquated garb?
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • Millions of years ago, the peaceful water, lack of scavengers, and fine sediment created perfect conditions for preserving these plentiful prehistoric fossils—fish, alligators, stingrays, turtles, and even small horses have been found here.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026
  • The site dates to Thailand’s late prehistoric period, also known as the Iron Age, which lasted roughly 2,500 to 1,500 years ago.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 July 2026
Definition of prehistoric
Adjective
  • Enter Peskesi and the dozens of regenerative and natural wineries scattered across the southwest of Crete near quiet, picturesque Chania, which form its wine trail, a range from medieval-palace tasting rooms to sprawling vineyard operations.
    — Shannon McMahon, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 July 2026
  • Not many estates can claim to have a 1,000-year-old medieval tower in the backyard, but that’s exactly what anchors this historic property in the heart of Tuscany’s renowned Chianti wine region.
    — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 1 July 2026
Definition of medieval

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fossil
fossilized
fossils
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Cite this Entry

“Fossilized.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fossilized. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on fossilized

Nglish: Translation of fossilized for Spanish Speakers

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