Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective obsolete differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of obsolete are ancient, antiquated, antique, archaic, old, and venerable. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," obsolete may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence.

a computer that makes earlier models obsolete

When could ancient be used to replace obsolete?

The synonyms ancient and obsolete are sometimes interchangeable, but ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

ancient accounts of dragons

Where would antiquated be a reasonable alternative to obsolete?

While in some cases nearly identical to obsolete, antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time.

antiquated teaching methods

In what contexts can antique take the place of obsolete?

The words antique and obsolete can be used in similar contexts, but antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time.

collected antique Chippendale furniture

When is archaic a more appropriate choice than obsolete?

In some situations, the words archaic and obsolete are roughly equivalent. However, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.

the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

When might old be a better fit than obsolete?

Although the words old and obsolete have much in common, old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

old houses
an old sweater of mine

When would venerable be a good substitute for obsolete?

The meanings of venerable and obsolete largely overlap; however, venerable stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age.

the family's venerable patriarch

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 obsolete Maintaining obsolete systems also consumes time and budget that businesses could invest in high-value strategic initiatives. Manuel Sanchez, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025 The streetcar would move too slowly, carry too few people or too many, be obsolete on opening day, cost too much, and trigger gentrification. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 18 Apr. 2025 Neuroplasticity allows for the formation of new connections, the purging of obsolete ones, and changes in the strength of existing connections—all processes that make subtle changes to the structure of our neural networks. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2025 Homeowners are dealing with smaller dining spaces that act as casual, multi-function rooms, which means full dining room sets are becoming increasingly obsolete. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for obsolete
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsolete
Adjective
  • This archaic jaw is a key trait of hell ants, an extinct group in the subfamily Haidomyrmecinae that lived during the Cretaceous period, between 66 million and 145 million years ago.
    Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025
  • While some players believe that overworlds are tedious and archaic game designs that only add unnecessary filler in between traveling to different destinations, Expedition 33 avoids this problem by placing optional dungeons on the overworld.
    George Yang, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In my world of provider directories—which include providers’ names, addresses, phone numbers and more—typical methods for updating data are antiquated and include things such as call campaigns, attestation from providers or their health groups and manual roster updates.
    Robert Lindner, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
  • Remarkably, remnants of that antiquated mindset still persist in practice today in the State of Connecticut.
    Lisa Seminara, Hartford Courant, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The musician used the early medieval Irish alphabet Ogham to write two pro-Palestine messages on their body before their Eurovision semi-finals performance.
    Abby Monteil, Them., 29 Apr. 2025
  • Ashford Castle – Ireland Originating from the 13th century, the magnificent Ashford Castle has a rich history, evolving from a medieval fortress to a grand luxury retreat adorned with antiques and artwork.
    Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Obsolete.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsolete. Accessed 8 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on obsolete

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