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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 prehistoric The species has remained unchanged since prehistoric times, finding ways to survive while other species became extinct, according to the San Diego Zoo. — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 16 July 2026 Lyndsy Fonseca, rapper Russ, Tom Cavanagh, Hunter King, Joseph Lee Anderson and Rob Riggle star in the indie film, which concerns a group of campers who run into a nasty, giant, prehistoric spider. — William Earl, Variety, 15 July 2026 From some giant prehistoric sloths that fell into a sinkhole 500,000 years ago to extinct elephants to today’s massive invasive pythons, Florida has always been a biological playground. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 July 2026 Yellowstone is the only place in the United States where the animal has lived since prehistoric times. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for prehistoric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prehistoric
  1. archaic
  2. obsolete
  3. medieval
  4. antiquated
  5. neolithic
Adjective
  • The work doesn’t really get into the significance of these archaic sequences.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026
  • The other branches—the archaic hominins, as scientists call them—include the Neanderthals, who lived across Europe and western Asia, and the Denisovans, who are known mostly from a handful of fossils found in Siberia and Tibet.
    — Jacek Krywko, Scientific American, 30 July 2026
Definition of archaic
Adjective
  • This drives lenders to demand aggressive loan amortization schedules to pay down the debt before the tech becomes obsolete.
    — Dr. Dick Bridy, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The perfection of satellite and fiber-optic communications made microwaves obsolete, while the rapid development of modern computers turned the gubbins on the lower floors into museum pieces.
    — David Szondy August 01, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of obsolete
Adjective
  • The now extinct lineage branched off after medieval European strains but before those that gave rise to modern smallpox.
    — Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 30 July 2026
  • There’s even a fitness area overlooking the medieval village.
    — Tianna Soto, Travel + Leisure, 28 July 2026
Definition of medieval
Adjective
  • Founders Anton Juric and Niklas Lindgren developed the solution after recognizing significant inefficiencies and antiquated software in manual MEP design.
    — David Prosser, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026
  • Skip heavy drapes, oversized hutches, and large floral centerpieces, which read as antiquated.
    — Sarah Lyon, The Spruce, 24 July 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

Browse Nearby Words

prehensions
prehistoric
prejudge
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Cite this Entry

“Prehistoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prehistoric. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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