Synonyms of old

old 1 of 2

adjective

ˈōld 

1

as in elderly

being of advanced years and especially past middle age

every day the old fisherman set out in his small boat to brave the dangers of the sea

Synonyms & Similar Words

• elderly
• senior
• aging
• aged
• older
• ancient
• geriatric
• over-the-hill
• senescent
• long-lived
• adult
• of a certain age
• venerable
• oldish
• long in the tooth
• unyoung
• octogenarian
• retired
• sexagenarian
• middle-aged
• septuagenarian
• nonagenarian
• superannuated
• decrepit
• senile
• doddering
• mature
• centenarian
• patriarchal
• spavined
• grown-up
• matriarchal
• pensioned
• tottery
• overage
• anile

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• young
• youthful
• ageless
• youngish
• juvenile
• immature
• adolescent
• minor
• green
• puerile
• inexperienced
• underage
• raw
• childish
• infantile
• childlike
• preteen
• callow
• babyish
• infantine
• kiddish

2

as in ancient

dating or surviving from the distant past

an extremely old piece of jewelry was discovered in the Egyptian ruins

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ancient
• venerable
• antique
• medieval
• hoary
• aged
• antiquated
• antediluvian
• age-old
• archaic
• immemorial
• prehistoric
• hoar
• traditional
• obsolete
• aging
• outmoded
• out-of-date
• old-time
• vintage
• fusty
• geriatric
• dated
• dateless
• retro
• durable
• permanent
• old-fashioned
• old-world
• classical
• moldy
• enduring
• ageless
• timeless
• lasting
• mature
• tried-and-true
• passé
• archaistic
• timeworn
• classic
• Noachian
• primeval
• long-lived
• primordial
• tried
• time-honored
• time-tested
• hallowed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• new
• modern
• young
• recent
• youthful
• fresh
• current
• contemporary
• latest
• present-day
• novel
• vernal
• unused
• untried
• ultramodern
• mod
• untested
• brand-new
• unworn

3

as in former

having been such at some previous time

I ran into my old fourth-grade teacher yesterday

Synonyms & Similar Words

• former
• erstwhile
• other
• past
• late
• once
• defunct
• sometime
• onetime
• bygone
• whilom
• expired
• quondam
• departed
• extinct
• vanished
• long-ago
• gone
• dead

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• current
• present
• contemporary
• ongoing
• future
• extant
• present-day
• prospective
• coming
• unborn

4

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

• boring
• stupid
• dusty
• slow
• tiring
• weary
• dull
• wearying
• heavy
• annoying
• dry
• stodgy
• drab
• tame
• stale
• uninteresting
• tedious
• tiresome
• irritating
• monotonous
• pedestrian
• humdrum
• dreary
• stuffy
• arid
• wearisome
• monochromatic
• ponderous
• leaden
• colorless
• flat
• jejune
• numbing
• ho-hum
• pallid
• drudging
• sterile
• gray
• exhausting
• mind-numbing
• jading
• barren
• blank
• unimaginative
• blah
• soggy
• prosy
• spiritless
• inanimate
• prosaic
• irksome
• unexciting
• draining
• earthbound
• bothersome
• uninspiring
• aseptic
• ordinary
• uneventful
• unspectacular
• dullish
• unrewarding
• pedantic
• common
• undramatic
• wearing
• fatiguing
• cumbersome
• pleasureless
• discouraging
• commonplace
• suspenseless
• debilitating
• vapid
• unsensational
• poky
• lumbering
• longsome
• unnewsworthy
• dispiriting
• plodding
• palling
• unexceptional
• disheartening
• tepid
• unsurprising
• enervating
• demoralizing
• enfeebling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• interesting
• involving
• wonderful
• intriguing
• amazing
• exciting
• engaging
• surprising
• awesome
• wondrous
• marvelous
• astonishing
• spectacular
• fabulous
• absorbing
• riveting
• engrossing
• inspiring
• astounding
• gripping
• sensational
• amusing
• charming
• moving
• breathtaking
• attractive
• exhilarating
• entertaining
• thrilling
• stimulating
• stirring
• electrifying
• animating
• fascinating
• energizing
• rousing
• enchanting
• alluring
• poignant
• touching
• beguiling
• attracting
• entrancing
• enthralling
• bewitching
• invigorating
• enlivening
• rip-roaring
• galvanizing
• eye-opening
• provocative
• hair-raising
• diverting
• tantalizing
• captivating
• suspenseful
• mesmerizing
• arresting
• spellbinding

old

2 of 2

noun

as in antiquity

Related Words

• antiquity
• now
• yore
• yesteryear
• yesterday
• today
• present
• past
• moment

Dissimilar Words

• future
• tomorrow
• hereafter
• finality
• offing
• by-and-by
• futurity
• eventuality
• posterity

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

Recent Examples of old

Adjective

Panic swept through the Irkutsk region of eastern Siberia this weekend following the death of Darya Shipilova, a 28-year-old laboratory technician at the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026

The cultural demons a 34-year-old playwright was conjuring a century ago rise up as dark reflections for our own. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Noun

But an investigation by ProPublica and Verite News found that 69% of 17-year olds in three of the state’s largest parishes were arrested for offenses that Louisiana law does not consider violent crimes. — Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 22 May 2026

While most 18-year-olds know a 21-year-old, few can rely on a 26-year-old to do the same. — Katharine Silbaugh, STAT, 19 May 2026

Phrases Containing old

• Old Nick
• old guard
• old hand
• old lady
• old man
• old wives' tale