OLD-TIMEY Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

old-timey

adjective

ˈōl(d)-ˈtī-mē

Definition of old-timey

as in vintage

pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time tourists can pose for pictures wearing old-timey dresses or top hats

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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-timey The whole debacle left me shaking my head like a Waldorf and Statler-style old-timey crank, openly nostalgic for a time in which music took up more space, demanded more of us, and didn’t have to be so uplifting. — Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 20 July 2026 Along the Eastern Seaboard, that looks like old-timey New England fishing villages, North Carolina mountain towns near the Appalachian Trail, and island communities in the Florida Keys. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 17 July 2026 This old-timey annual is one of your best sources of true blue in the garden. — Steve Bender, Southern Living, 7 July 2026 But you may be surprised by the old-timey charms of this beachfront American town. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for old-timey

Recent Examples of Synonyms for old-timey

Adjective

The looks kicked off at the welcome party and rehearsal dinner with a vintage tartan Ralph Lauren dress paired with a burgundy Dries Van Noten coat.

— Shelby Wax, Vogue, 2 Oct. 2026
Why scarcity matters in vintage fashion resale Scarcity is another big piece of the puzzle.

— Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of vintage

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

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

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

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
Furthermore, its green monochrome display will likely feel antiquated once full-color waveguide tech matures.

— Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of antiquated

Adjective

But the work’s critics also appeal to its past; actual encounter is informed by historical circumstances, which means looking back.

— Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
The bill would have directed state agencies to recognize historical inequities affecting tribes, and to consult with them on water projects, plans and policies.

— Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of historical

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

Adjective

The New York Liberty are peaking at the right time and were able to complete a historic sweep of the Minnesota Lynx to advance to the semifinals of the WNBA playoffs.

— Doug Feinberg, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Of course, Hemingway and McCarthy weren’t writing amid democratic backsliding and historic polarization.

— Ryan Chapman, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of historic

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“Old-timey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old-timey. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of old-timey

adjective

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