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 Think fewer flowers and more new prehistoric species named in your honor. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026 Millions of years after a massive Tyrannosaurus rex trudged through a prehistoric mudflat, paleontologists can finally follow in its footsteps. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026 When the water receded, the cliffs were exposed and began eroding, revealing prehistoric remains. — Katie Riley, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2026 Robert Eagle, a co-author of the study and a geobiologist at University of California, Los Angeles, pioneered this approach to measuring prehistoric body temperatures. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 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 archaic legal restrictions restricting same-sex couples or unmarried women, for example, are acknowledged and adhered to, rather than being openly challenged or criticized.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Cornell University’s investigation, of course, did not have to adhere to New York’s arguably archaic criminal standards, but its response, too, has triggered anger and disbelief across airwaves and social media.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of archaic
Adjective
  • As Jack Dorsey of Block argues, corporate hierarchy is an obsolete information-routing protocol.
    — Ming Lu, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • But a decade later, as streamers rely increasingly on acquisitions, co-financing and bundling, producers and distributors — far from becoming obsolete — have had to sharpen their dealmaking skills.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of obsolete
Adjective
  • It was filmed on two medieval backlots at Korda Studios and the National Film Institute, to the west and north of the city respectively, according to Barbara Reardon, a local co-producer.
    — Lucy Handley, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
  • By the medieval period, Christianity was the dominant religion of Europe, but long-distance travel was extremely difficult, and embarking upon a pilgrimage to Jerusalem was often regarded as a death sentence.
    — Shay Rabineau, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of medieval
Adjective
  • The antiquated federal code lacks any guidance for building these homes to withstand earthquakes, wildfires or tornadoes.
    — Arindam Chowdhury, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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
prejudge
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Cite this Entry

“Prehistoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prehistoric. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

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