as in ancient
dating or surviving from the distant past
hoary oak trees with dripping moss and gnarled limbs shaded us from the sun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 hoary
Since Trump is not a Red-baiter, Clooney must adjust his hoary defense of the Democratic Party to fit the left’s new partisanship.
—
Armond White, National Review, 30 Apr. 2025
Forget that hoary old prophecy about the kid who'll bring balance to the Force.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Sometimes a good story or excellent execution can overcome hoary material.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 6 Apr. 2025
The question of whether civilian control over the U.S. military is in crisis is an especially hoary debate in security studies.
—Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
See All Example Sentences for hoary
Armond White, National Review, 30 Apr. 2025
Forget that hoary old prophecy about the kid who'll bring balance to the Force.
—Richard Edwards, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Sometimes a good story or excellent execution can overcome hoary material.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 6 Apr. 2025
The question of whether civilian control over the U.S. military is in crisis is an especially hoary debate in security studies.
—Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 24 Aug. 2021
See All Example Sentences for hoary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoary
Adjective
-
Its sheer red sandstone cliffs, carved over millions of years, cradle ancient cliff dwellings and rock art that tell stories of the ancestral Puebloans.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
In his younger years, Jacobs would have hunted in ancient forests, now known only to our imaginations—old-growth stands of hemlock, pine, oak, and chestnut, with trees standing more than a hundred feet tall and nearly four hundred years old.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
The venerable venue’s spokesman represents a must-see in a part of the city laden with them.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
But this year, at the April opening of RH’s new Milanese flagship, the company struck a blow for the classic and the timeless with the launch of RH Estates, a new division that celebrates the genius of some of the world’s most venerable designers, past and present.—
Mayer Rus,
Architectural Digest,
9 June 2026
Adjective
-
While a few of the old hunters were wistful about the memory of the large mammals, others saw extirpation as necessary progress.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2026
-
The 24-year-old’s burning desire, elite athleticism, and an electrifying season at Triple-A Albuquerque busted down the big-league door.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
It’s made from iron, has an antique-looking bronze finish, and is designed with a cut-out floral pattern for a touch of flair.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
9 June 2026
-
In Turpentine, after her son hires friends to steal the family’s antique gun collection to pay off a debt, a mother steps in to clean up the mess, triggering a chain of events that stretch the family bond to its limit.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
This legendary experiment in medieval aviation comes to us via 12th-century historian William of Malmesbury in an account written circa 1125, although William neglected to provide future historians with an exact date for the feat.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
14 June 2026
-
The landscape is so wild and the little medieval towns along the way so unspoiled that the two-hour journey seems to take you back in time.—
The Week UK,
TheWeek,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hoary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoary. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
