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
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
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
And without these old-line agencies bleeding taxpayers dry, New York will have funds to put these better alternatives in place.
—Richard Wexler, New York Daily News, 13 May 2024
Renowned for ancient churches and the tomb of Dante, the 14th-century poet, the city of Ravenna and its environs along Italy’s Adriatic coast are also home to old-line industries like steel and fertilizer.
—Stanley Reed, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Trump would also face a Congress less inclined to impose such constraints, having established ideological mastery of the Republican Party, whose old-line elites can no longer claim that his agenda is aberrant and must be resisted.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024
Jon Pareles, New York Times, 7 Jan. 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
And without these old-line agencies bleeding taxpayers dry, New York will have funds to put these better alternatives in place.
—Richard Wexler, New York Daily News, 13 May 2024
Renowned for ancient churches and the tomb of Dante, the 14th-century poet, the city of Ravenna and its environs along Italy’s Adriatic coast are also home to old-line industries like steel and fertilizer.
—Stanley Reed, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Trump would also face a Congress less inclined to impose such constraints, having established ideological mastery of the Republican Party, whose old-line elites can no longer claim that his agenda is aberrant and must be resisted.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old-line
Adjective
-
The traditional approach of training a robot on action with reinforcement was very slow, but generative AI allows for much greater generalization.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
24 June 2025
-
AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines explained that the AccuWeather RealFeel Temperature factors in more variables than the traditional heat index, which considers only air temperature and relative humidity.—
Joe Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 June 2025
Adjective
-
Florida is a state of paradoxes, from its history of colonization and relationship to enslavement, to its immigrant communities and conservative politics, to its gorgeous waters and swampy inlands.—
Leila Mottley
June 27,
Literary Hub,
27 June 2025
-
The high court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, has in recent years been sympathetic to plaintiffs raising claims of religious discrimination.—
June 27,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
Adjective
-
The reward was the most successful period in their history and an example that, in time, might embolden other clubs to challenge the orthodox thinking.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
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Martinez is 29 years old, stands at 5-foot-11 with a 72-inch reach, and fights in an orthodox right-handed stance.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Old-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old-line. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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