prehistoric

adjective

ˌprē-(h)i-ˈstȯr-ik How to pronounce prehistoric (audio)
variants also prehistorical
Definition of prehistoricnext
as in archaic
having passed its time of use or usefulness prehistoric notions about mental illness that have no place in today's world

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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 prehistoric That said, prior archaeological digs have revealed similar prehistoric wooden weapons dating as far back as 400,000 years. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026 In Egypt, an underwater excavation in Alexandria uncovered a bronze ring depicting the legendary Lighthouse of Alexandria, while prehistoric rock art in Sinai reveals thousands of years of human activity. — Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026 For now, the prehistoric trees are offering Long Islanders a rare glimpse of a species whose roots stretch back to the time of the dinosaurs. — Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026 Saudi Arabia’s largely arid landscape is dotted by about a million prehistoric stone structures, but Al-Rajajil remains the most famous. — Taylor Luck, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for prehistoric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prehistoric
  1. archaic
  2. obsolete
  3. medieval
  4. antiquated
  5. neolithic
Adjective
  • In addition, the belief that hip-hop artists are required to acquiesce and musically circumscribe themselves to appease mainstream audiences is archaic in many respects.
    — Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2026
  • In addition, the belief that hip-hop artists are required to acquiesce and musically circumcise themselves to appease mainstream audiences is archaic in many respects.
    — Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of archaic
Adjective
  • For Picasso, the new was power; its will to render obsolete what came before was as irresistible as a force of nature.
    — Michael Brenson, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2026
  • Houses were rebuilt over the remains of earlier houses, incorporating old walls and materials into new construction; basilicas became churches and churches became mosques; obsolete city walls and fortifications became boulevards and promenades.
    — Julian Rose, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2026
Definition of obsolete
Adjective
  • Think medieval meets modern--less clunky Louis XVIth and more comfy armchair, with Kingsdown mattresses that are simply divine.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Oct. 2026
  • Following the Black Death in medieval Europe, memento mori, symbolic reminders of death’s inevitability, further ubiquitized skulls in art and architecture.
    — Livia Caligor, Architectural Digest, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of medieval
Adjective
  • According to firefighters, the department’s flood response was also limited by an antiquated dispatch system.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Plaintiffs challenging the prohibition on home distilling claim the 1868 law is an antiquated relic of Reconstruction-era politics.
    — Michael Kunzelman, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • From the Neolithic rock art of what is now Libya to ancient Egypt, China and India, to medieval and Renaissance Europe, creatures at borderlands of what was taken to be civilization were represented as cynocephalic, that is, humans with dog heads.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
  • Multiple generations of Neolithic designers relied on communal teamwork and clever construction techniques to precisely place each of the site’s gigantic megaliths about 5,000 years ago.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 4 June 2026
Definition of neolithic

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prehistoric
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Cite this Entry

“Prehistoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prehistoric. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

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