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
  • Kids had their stash of Beanie Babies, while moms had their vintage plate collections displayed in a china cabinet or on their walls.
    — Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2026
  • For Halloween, look for the more interesting items that can’t be found in retail stores, such as vintage items like blow molds and anything paper mâché.
    — Ashley Poskin, Martha Stewart, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of vintage
Adjective
  • As the traditional 60/40 equities and bonds portfolio mix comes under greater pressure amid supply shocks, inflation pressures and bond market volatility, alternative investments, like private markets, are moving into sharp focus.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026
  • In a move away from the traditional group stages, the league phase is designed to be fair through a seeding system.
    — Leon Imber, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of traditional
Adjective
  • Consider looking for these pieces at a souvenir shop on your next beach vacation or at an antique store, which will give them a special meaning.
    — Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The Winnetu Oceanside Resort offers a respite from the hustle and bustle with a gamut of activities that run from tennis and yoga to a ride on an antique fire truck.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of antique
Adjective
  • In a comment underneath a Facebook post from 2025, Headen called for foreign attacks on states with a large conservative population.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Vance had planned to be in New York for the anniversary last year but instead flew to Salt Lake City to be with the family of Charlie Kirk after the conservative activist was fatally shot.
    — Collin Binkley, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of conservative
Adjective
  • Some of our friends, who’d assumed that abstract art was all that any longer really mattered, were wondering if Jack’s nudes were radical or retro or if retro was the new radical.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The end result is a retro sci-fi building with high-tech-like pipes drawing one’s attention.
    — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of retro
Adjective
  • King’s indifference to orthodox formats enables formal mischief.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • For a period, Pakistan deployed a 7-2 offside field against Cox to try and build some pressure, with a struggling Khurram Shahzad lacking the accuracy and rhythm to trouble him in more orthodox ways.
    — Ben Jones, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of orthodox
Adjective
  • Costco online cake ordering updates antiquated system The online cake ordering feature was first revealed to be on the way by Costco CEO Ron Vachris in the company's quarterly earnings call in December 2025.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, interviews and encounters with the slain officers’ family members also illustrate the cost and harm of a job that was formed in the early 19th century and remains antiquated and unchanged in our 21st-century world.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • The billionaire chairman and CEO of WorldQuant has been a pioneer in applying AI and other technologies to vast collections of data, looking to build predictive models from historical information.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • At that perilous moment, the players put football in perspective and sensed the historical implications of failing to acknowledge the event’s gravity.
    — Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 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 12 Sep. 2026.

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