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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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 Made from fossilized phytoplankton, DE is approved for organic gardens and can be sprinkled directly onto ant hills to kill ants. — Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2026 These beaches are some of the best in Florida for finding shells and fossilized shark teeth, especially near the fort and jetties. — Taryn Shorr-McKee, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 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 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
  • And Lukas’ father is at pains to cope with the situation without resorting to archaic methods of patriarchal control.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The rest were made with metalpoint, an archaic drafting technique closely associated with Renaissance drawing in Italy and Northern Europe.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of archaic
Adjective
  • And although, as a survey-style telescope, Roman boasts a wider, faster view of the sky than either Hubble or JWST, McEnery emphasized that doesn’t make these more focused missions obsolete.
    — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The same practice can be revolutionary in one company, incremental in another, and obsolete in a third.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of obsolete
Adjective
  • Costco online cake ordering updates antiquated system The online cake ordering feature was first revealed to be on the way by Costco CEO Ron Vachris in the company's quarterly earnings call in December 2025.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, interviews and encounters with the slain officers’ family members also illustrate the cost and harm of a job that was formed in the early 19th century and remains antiquated and unchanged in our 21st-century world.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • Another, Undine kommt (Undine Comes), 2025, has its head in profile with a frontal eye, evoking the conventions of ancient Egyptian art and prehistoric female figurines, motifs that permeate Stötzer’s drawings, writings, and costumes.
    — Elisa R. Linn, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Beyond art, Griffin has also been a major buyer of important documents and prehistoric fossils.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of prehistoric
Adjective
  • Castellón To the north, Castellón unfolds as a mountainous marvel where medieval citadels, golden beaches, and tiny fishing villages create a landscape of contrasts, with the scent of citrus perfuming the air.
    — Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The season 28 finale is less than a month away and after the medieval twist wraps up, the jury stage of the game will begin.
    — Christopher Kuhagen, jsonline.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of medieval

Browse Nearby Words

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 7 Sep. 2026.

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