LONG-AGO Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

long ago 1 of 2

noun

Definition of long ago

as in antiquity

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Dissimilar Words

long-ago

2 of 2

adjective

as in bygone

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Dissimilar Words

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 long ago

Noun

Each of its elements began, long ago, in the loamy earth, hatching and creeping or slipping, slick and squealing, from the womb of the mind. — Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026 While there are still print news magazines called Time and Newsweek, the publications familiar to millions of Americans who grew up in the 21st century disappeared long ago. — Josef Adalian, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

Adjective

The men slumped in those long-ago joints would not be at home in a Murray Hill bar these days, however. — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 2 Sep. 2026 Ancient dirty dishes University of South Carolina archaeologist Adam King and his colleagues found fragments of ancient DNA from Theobroma cacao in the inner surfaces of potsherds from long-ago feasts at Etowah. — ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for long ago

Recent Examples of Synonyms for long ago

Noun

Her sculpture, cast in bronze and patinated with lapis lazuli blue—a pigment used in in north Africa, the Middle East, and Europe since antiquity—will remain in place for two years.

— News Desk, Artforum, 10 Sep. 2026
The idea that the object of a constitution is the common good dates to antiquity.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of antiquity

Adjective

Like much else in Guatemala, the colossal, mint-green presidential palace where Arévalo sat down with me is a holdover from a bygone era of authoritarianism.

— Will Freeman, The Atlantic, 20 Sep. 2026
Stickers celebrating bygone 21st birthdays cover the walls outside the bathrooms.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of bygone

Noun

There was some experimenting with the memoir being all letters, one big letter, or placed interstitially among narrative, but there were always going to be the letters.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Numerous milestones, from Peart studying with jazz player Freddie Gruber and reinventing his playing style to writing Ghost Rider, a memoir about riding motorcycles and grieving the loss of his wife and daughter, are dotted along the way.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of memoir

Adjective

The defunct Amtrak line, which ran more than 2,600 miles between Seattle and Chicago, ferried passengers to stops in Boise, Pocatello and Salt Lake City, winding along tracks that still carve through Idaho’s Snake River Plain today.

— Rose Evans September 15, Idaho Statesman, 15 Sep. 2026
Save the Sound has been leading efforts to demolish some of the state’s defunct and abandoned dams.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of defunct

Adjective

The Tasmanian tiger, which went extinct almost a century ago, had a huge skull and a lethal snap — a rare combination for a carnivorous mammal.

— Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026
Other travel advisors agree that summer travel is not going extinct, but have indeed noticed shifts in terms of where—and when—people are going.

— Matt Ortile, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of extinct

Adjective

Not only can throwing these items away keep your home functional by not keeping expired items on hand, but Jones says this also helps to reduce the visual clutter as well.

— Ashlyn Needham, The Spruce, 17 Sep. 2026
Updating your medicine cabinet will take care of any expired medications and reduce needless excess.

— Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of expired

Adjective

Their journey to rural Massachusetts to confront a family curse evokes the danger of historic ‘sundown towns,’ where Black travelers were not permitted to be outside past sunset.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Speaking about past experiences to inform how the two use their voice when advocating for change and a new direction, Tennant shared that people are always looking for clarity, especially when change occurs.

— Kanika Talwar, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of past

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“Long ago.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/long%20ago. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of long ago

noun

adjective

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