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Definition of oldnext
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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

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
In 2017, 14-year-old Alejandro Osuna watched from the stands as his older brother, Roberto, represented Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 10 Feb. 2026 Eric Patrick, 31, pleaded guilty in an Orlando courtroom to attempting to entice a 15-year-old, whom Patrick and his husband, Richard Kowalczyk, met on Grindr, a dating app for gay men, according to Patrick’s plea agreement. Silas Morgan, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
The 28-year-old hauled in 87 receptions for 1,027 yards and four touchdowns last season, representing the first 1,000-yard campaign of his NFL career. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Sep. 2025 From the bathroom, the 8-year-old called for Furlong and asked for help with his tie. Laura Kwerel, NPR, 2 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for old
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old
Adjective
  • An elderly woman died when a Russian drone hit a residential building in the Black Sea port city of Odesa, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said.
    SAMYA KULLAB, Chicago Tribune, 15 Feb. 2026
  • An elderly woman died when a Russian drone hit a residential building in the Black Sea port city of Odesa, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • First physical evidence found in ancient vessel causes 'immense excitement'.
    , FOXNews.com, 11 Feb. 2026
  • This ancient grain is rich in protein, fiber, and vitamins (such as magnesium), which can aid digestion and support heart health.
    Ashia Aubourg, Outside, 10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The visit by Ali Larijani, a former Iranian parliament speaker who now serves as the secretary to the country's Supreme National Security Council, likely focused on what comes next after the initial round of indirect talks held last week in Muscat with the Americans.
    JON GAMBRELL THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The Lakers next play Thursday night here against the Mavericks, Doncic’s former team.
    Broderick Turner, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • The boring lunch ends boringly, with the women sipping their champagne in silence, tucking into their salads, and ignoring the commemorative glasses that no one wanted.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 13 Feb. 2026
  • This sounds like a boring event but the boys turn the act of breaking up ice or sleet sheets from the sidewalk into a hockey-like competition.
    Caleb Harris, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Villainous weirdos like Bronze Age Pervert, Curtis Yarvin, or Jack Donovan who populate the ranks of far-right intellectuals are obsessed with their own fabulism about antiquity, reminding one of the murderous gaggle of privileged college kids in Donna Tart’s 1993 campus novel The Secret History.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
  • But the capital holds one of the world’s largest collections of European art at the Kunsthistorisches Museum—among the most beautiful museums in the world—where pieces range from Roman antiquities to Renaissance-era armor that once belonged to Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I.
    Lane Nieset, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
  • From 2014 to this fall, Byrnes was there for all of it as the senior vice president of baseball operations.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 12 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • On their second day in Washington, DC, a group of venerable Buddhist monks from Texas marked the end of their multi-month walking pilgrimage at the Lincoln Memorial.
    Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • The venerable Bay Area punk band Green Day also put in a characteristically punchy mini-set meant to mark the Super Bowl’s 60th anniversary.
    Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Directed and co-written by Alexandre Rockwell, the film follows an aspiring filmmaker (Steve Buscemi) who falls in with an irresistibly charming gangster (Seymour Cassel, who won Sundance’s first acting award) as his erstwhile producer.
    Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 6 Feb. 2026
  • La Dolce Vita and the Minerva, which occupies the erstwhile palazzo of 17th-century aristocrats, debuted last April.
    Adam Erace, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Old.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old. Accessed 17 Feb. 2026.

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