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as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest even the most stirring speeches start to get old after you've heard them a few times

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

old

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noun

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an old woman
an elderly woman
an octogenarian woman
a senior woman
a grandmotherly woman
an elder woman
an old house
an outdated house
an obsolete house
a previous house
a former house
an earlier house
old days
ancient days
archaic days
long-past days
in-those days
simpler days
an old town
a historic town
a classic town
a historical town
an ancient town
an old friend
a longtime friend
a past friend
a familiar friend
a longstanding friend
a previous friend

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective old differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of old are ancient, antiquated, antique, archaic, obsolete, and venerable. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

old houses
an old sweater of mine

When can ancient be used instead of old?

While in some cases nearly identical to old, ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

ancient accounts of dragons

When might antiquated be a better fit than old?

In some situations, the words antiquated and old are roughly equivalent. However, antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time.

antiquated teaching methods

When would antique be a good substitute for old?

The meanings of antique and old largely overlap; however, 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 old?

While the synonyms archaic and old are close in meaning, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.

the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

In what contexts can obsolete take the place of old?

The words obsolete and old are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 is it sensible to use venerable instead of old?

The words venerable and old can be used in similar contexts, but 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 old
Adjective
Two 19-year-olds and one 16-year-old were killed, according to a Facebook post from Las Cruces Police. Zoe Sottile, CNN, 22 Mar. 2025 The 60-year-old called into The View for her segment, which ran for under 30 minutes. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 14 Mar. 2025
Noun
Sculpting a modern tale about a porcelain company that’s 250 years old has a lot to do with understanding how younger generations come together, dine and entertain. Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 17 June 2025 International students make up about 27% of the student body at the nation’s oldest and wealthiest university. Andy Rose, CNN Money, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for old
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old
Adjective
  • The groom’s elderly aunt had to be helped inside with signs of heat exhaustion.
    Nicholas Rice, People.com, 5 July 2025
  • Offenders typically target elderly Asian women and convince them that a member of their family is cursed or in danger.
    Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 4 July 2025
Adjective
  • Scientists can deduce historic oxygen levels by analyzing ancient rocks (like Banded Iron Formations) because their chemical composition depend on the amount of oxygen available when they were formed.
    David Bressan, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025
  • The theory of natural selection persevered, and the lengthy record of our ancient roots began to fill out.
    Laura Poppick, Rolling Stone, 30 June 2025
Adjective
  • However, a lawsuit against the university by three former women's swimmers over their experience in sharing a team with Thomas is still active.
    Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2025
  • Expect early brand decisions In 2021, former CEO Tavares gave the 14 brands, 10 years to justify their existence.
    Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • This is worlds away from that boring deli chicken sandwich, while still being easy enough to whip up on the busiest of days.
    Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
  • The contract’s scope of work includes the single bore tunnel, station entrances and exits, the excavation of underground stations and the procurement of a tunnel boring machine.
    Grace Hase, Mercury News, 27 June 2025
Noun
  • Meanwhile, the local government lacks the resources to step in; the antiquities authority itself has no financial allocations or operational budget in a country devastated by over a decade of war.
    Smithsonian Magazine, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 June 2025
  • Fifty priceless artifacts looted from Egypt and Pakistan — and trafficked through Manhattan by two notorious antiquities dealers — have been returned to their home countries, the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office has announced.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 2 June 2025
Adjective
  • Vaughn Hillyard will join MSNBC as senior White House correspondent, as the network has hired a group of journalists for its team in advance of its split from Comcast and sister network NBC News.
    Ted Johnson, Deadline, 1 July 2025
  • As a result of the imminent split, MSNBC has made some key hires (including senior vp of newsgathering Scott Matthews and DC chief Sudeep Reddy), while also losing some key talent, like Steve Kornacki, who will remain focused on NBC News.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • For those who don't know, Area 51 is a large, secretive military base in the remote Nevada desert where several exotic military aircraft have been developed and tested over the years, including the venerable U-2 spy plane way back when.
    Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 6 July 2025
  • The venerable German sports car maker has just unveiled a trio of 4S models for its most iconic vehicle.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • But the real question is what kind of concrete retribution Trump could try to exact on his erstwhile political ally and campaign donor.
    Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 7 July 2025
  • On the way to the Fordyce’s second floor, the erstwhile opulence along Bathhouse Row becomes evident.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Old.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

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