OLD-SCHOOL Synonyms: 155 Similar and Opposite Words

old-school

adjective

ˈōl(d)-ˌskül

Definition of old-school

as in vintage

pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time an old-school romantic comedy in which the two leads don't jump into bed at the first opportunity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in traditional

tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions an old-school gentleman who opened doors and pulled out chairs for women

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-school There’s a charmingly old-school simplicity to the proceedings. — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 25 Sep. 2026 Some cosmologists have thought that BBN is too old-school to be as good a tool for cosmology as other probes of the early universe. — Cara Giovanetti, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026 This is like an old-school hot rod moment, where guys in the parking lot would bark about their big-blocks. — Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 24 Sep. 2026 Talk about making old-school functional more modern and cool. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for old-school

Recent Examples of Synonyms for old-school

Adjective

There's a game room with vintage arcade games and a pool table, a kids room package with a tent and foam twin mattress, a dog-friendly pet package, and a nightly s'mores hour.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026
The band’s brilliant but troubled producer, Martin Hannett, was far more interested in making guitars sound like machinery or a swarm of hornets than, say, a vintage Telecaster.

— Jem Aswad, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of vintage

Adjective

As with its previous gear releases, PD EDC is bypassing traditional retail avenues to bring this project to fruition.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 29 Sep. 2026
More importantly, bonds are also almost certainly bigger than the traditional banking system—and probably crossed that mark sometime in the past decade, for the first time since both were invented a millennium ago.

— Robin Wigglesworth, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026

Definition of traditional

Adjective

This color choice was then replicated again for the shoe’s retro release in 2009.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
That someone with a voice as communicative and constantly evolving as Bridges is often reduced to a retro aesthete is a shame.

— Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of retro

Adjective

Federal authorities on Thursday charged a Boston-area man with harassing Katie Miller, the conservative podcaster and wife of senior White House aide Stephen Miller, in a case that sparked a heated debate among prosecutors and within the FBI.

— Jeremy Roebuck, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
However, conservative commentators have used the Cornell incident to caution against playing judge, jury, and executioner without allowing a thorough investigation.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of conservative

Adjective

This hotel’s raw concrete and brushed stainless steel are punctuated by pieces from Verner Panton, Tommaso Barbi, and Florian Schulz and, more surprisingly, antique castle doors.

— Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 29 Sep. 2026
For the Hudson Valley ceremony, Aemilia wore a Kamparett dress, Prounis earrings, Alaia wedges, and an antique wax flower crown from eBay.

— Anna Grace Lee, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of antique

Adjective

Arnold Roma became one of the most persistent voices behind an effort to resurrect Fire Patrol, arguing that New York had lost more than an antiquated insurance service.

— Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026
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

Definition of antiquated

Adjective

But On the Rocks has the potential to draw customers to Burleson from far around for an old-time Italian restaurant experience with pastas and grill dishes, cocktails, wines and a piano bar.

— Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Sep. 2026
For this tigress, the elder Singh urged a haka, an old-time beat.

— Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of old-time

Browse Nearby Words

olds

old-school

oldster

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“Old-school.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old-school. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of old-school

adjective

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