old-fashioned

adjective

ˈōl(d)-ˈfa-shənd How to pronounce old-fashioned (audio)
Definition of old-fashionednext
1
as in vintage
pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time an elegant, old-fashioned bun that was held in place with pearl hairpins

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in traditional
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions I'm so old-fashioned that I actually think people should use standard grammar and punctuation when composing e-mails

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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-fashioned That gives the car a charming, old-fashioned feel that belies the modern tech within. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 8 June 2026 These provers, along with old-fashioned human ingenuity, knocked down the open questions one at a time. — Quanta Magazine, 8 June 2026 According to the Washingtonian, an old-fashioned telephone guest book was provided at the reception for guests to share advice for the couple. — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026 Ultimately, the team identified the Heaven Sword the old-fashioned way — by scaling the massive tree and dropping a tape measure from the top, according to a study published Friday in the journal Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for old-fashioned
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old-fashioned
  1. vintage
  2. traditional
  3. antique
  4. conservative
  5. retro
  6. orthodox
  7. antiquated
  8. historical
Adjective
  • Their brothers all wore vintage floral brooches the couple collected for the wedding day.
    — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The couple recently revamped their living room and kitchen, adding details like crown moldings, vintage lighting and custom banquette seating, which cost approximately $12,000.
    — Sophie Caldwell,Valentina Duarte, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of vintage
Adjective
  • Upon landing in Samarkand on Sunday night, Rubio was warmly embraced by Uzbekistan’s foreign minister, Bakhtiyor Saidov, while two women clad in elaborate gold-and-black traditional dresses presented him with a bouquet.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2026
  • In all these areas, the traditional aid system is falling short.
    — David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of traditional
Adjective
  • Noyce, of Fairchild, went to a photography store and found a few serviceable lenses in a crate of antique movie cameras.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Someone wants to hike; someone else would rather browse antique shops; a few people are already asking what’s for dinner.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of antique
Adjective
  • Davis’s letter follows a separate ethics complaint filed by a conservative watchdog group to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics over Slotkin’s University of Chicago remarks, first reported by the Washington Examiner on Tuesday.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative group of state legislators and private-sector members, cast it as part of a growing bipartisan movement and urged the remaining states to follow.
    — Lara Murray-Sterzel, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of conservative
Adjective
  • The console lets users play N64 games with their original cartridges and controllers, using FPGA hardware instead of emulation software—the standard for retro machines—so there’s no lag during play.
    — Jessica Sager, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Coincidentally named Jordan Green, he is played by Rock himself and cuts a retro figure, with an outfit—a rain jacket, a tie, a fedora—that reads like a nostalgic nod to classic-jazz album covers.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of retro
Adjective
  • Garcia’s comes from standing up straight in his orthodox stance but is driven by his back leg, which propels him forward.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • King’s indifference to orthodox formats enables formal mischief.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of orthodox
Adjective
  • The antiquated federal code lacks any guidance for building these homes to withstand earthquakes, wildfires or tornadoes.
    — Arindam Chowdhury, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Adopting techniques from classic-Hollywood style, cinematographers dusted off antiquated equipment, using tungsten bulbs instead of LEDs to create the low-key contrasts typical of the genre.
    — Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • The couple took pains to preserve historical details like the house's original wooden shutters.
    — Sophie Caldwell,Valentina Duarte, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • City outlines restrictions on camera use In its statement, the city said officers must enter an offense type and associated case number when conducting historical ALPR searches as part of investigations.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of historical

Browse Nearby Words

oldfangled
old-fashioned
old-fashionedness
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Cite this Entry

“Old-fashioned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old-fashioned. Accessed 25 Oct. 2026.

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