as in traditional
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions
an old-line professor who still taught as if it were 1930
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Recent Examples of old-line
These firms had been the envy of the old-line investment banking houses.
—
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026
More practically, people on Netflix’s side might say that further industry consolidation is inevitable, given changing consumer habits and shifting business models for old-line media companies.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
That has included a growing number of tech and IT firms taking their place, pushing off the likes of print publishers and old-line industrial companies in the process.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Among the festival organizers, Yarrow was an advocate for the topical songwriting and contemporary sounds that some old-line folk aficionados resisted.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
Her main opponent is expected to be Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Virginia), 74, who is considered a more mainstream, old-line Democratic figure.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 6 Dec. 2024
On the other hand, the old-line producers knew how to tap into the classic novels of Dickens or Steinbeck to spin out great stories with legendary stars.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2024
Overall, the result was a success story that old-line competitors couldn’t match.
—Bhopi Dhall and Saurajit Kanungo, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024
Jim Cramer, CNBC, 1 Mar. 2026
More practically, people on Netflix’s side might say that further industry consolidation is inevitable, given changing consumer habits and shifting business models for old-line media companies.
—Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 5 Dec. 2025
That has included a growing number of tech and IT firms taking their place, pushing off the likes of print publishers and old-line industrial companies in the process.
—Jeff John Roberts, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2025
Among the festival organizers, Yarrow was an advocate for the topical songwriting and contemporary sounds that some old-line folk aficionados resisted.
—Jon Pareles, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025
Her main opponent is expected to be Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Virginia), 74, who is considered a more mainstream, old-line Democratic figure.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 6 Dec. 2024
On the other hand, the old-line producers knew how to tap into the classic novels of Dickens or Steinbeck to spin out great stories with legendary stars.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 25 Oct. 2024
Overall, the result was a success story that old-line competitors couldn’t match.
—Bhopi Dhall and Saurajit Kanungo, Forbes, 5 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old-line
Adjective
-
Meals in The Eatery all-day buffet; in Horizons, the three-floor main dining room (which offers the traditional early and late seating as well as anytime dining); at the 24-hour International Café; and on the outdoor decks at The Lido and Promenade are all included in the cruise fare.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Feb. 2026
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This flexibility is intended to enable more advanced maneuvering and mission profiles than traditional hypersonic boost-glide and cruise missile systems.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Even physicians, long hailed by Republicans for their conservative bona fides, contributed more funds to Democrats by a 2-to-1 margin in 2024.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
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Today, conservative podcasters like Benny Johnson have filled Limbuagh's space and were gleeful after the House panel moved last month to hold the couple in contempt.—
STEVEN SLOAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
For him, Yuan porcelain represented a major cultural and technological breakthrough in Chinese art under Mongol rule, countering long-running, orthodox perceptions of the imperial dynasty.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
28 Feb. 2026
-
But the battles around the president have increasingly spread beyond the orthodox parameters of political debate and into the broader culture.—
Niall Stanage,
The Hill,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Old-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old-line. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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