as in relics
one that has passed the peak of effectiveness or popularity
now a has-been, the actor's been reduced to appearing on a third-rate reality show
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for has-beens
Noun
-
The historic downtown is full of antique mining relics and quirky businesses.—
Jen Murphy,
Outside,
7 Jan. 2026 -
The square Edelman and fellow students dug in, after determining the spot might yield interesting relics, did produce tiles, pieces of ceramic and more.—
Helen I. Bennett,
Hartford Courant,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In other words, political dinosaurs—or monsters—must at least give lip service to affordability.—
Alissa Quart
January 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Jan. 2026
-
Here are a few of this year's most unexpected and fascinating discoveries, ranging from the social lives of dinosaurs to still-undiscovered giants.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
28 Dec. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Has-beens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/has-beens. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share