as in former
having been such at some previous time
a quondam oil baron now living comfortably in retirement
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Recent Examples of quondam
By coincidence, the same day that Reichstag burned, Einstein wrote to his quondam mistress, Margarete Lenbach.
—
Thomas Levenson, The Atlantic, 9 June 2017
Thomas Levenson, The Atlantic, 9 June 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for quondam
Adjective
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Ministers remain haunted by events in September 2000 when former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s government, with a majority as large as Starmer’s now, was rocked as farmers and hauliers blockaded refineries and fuel depots amid fury over taxes levied on petrol and diesel.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
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The Republican field includes former state Republican Party chair Don Tracy and attorney Jeannie Evans.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The erstwhile third baseman moved to right field midway through camp last spring then placed fourth among MLB right fielders in defensive runs saved as a rookie, per Sports Info Solutions.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
24 Feb. 2026
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Directed and co-written by Alexandre Rockwell, the film follows an aspiring filmmaker (Steve Buscemi) who falls in with an irresistibly charming gangster (Seymour Cassel, who won Sundance’s first acting award) as his erstwhile producer.—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Blume would shower with her father and her older brother, David.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
18 Mar. 2026
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The funeral prayer for the 41-year-old Afghan father of six who died Saturday in ICE custody was held Tuesday while more questions arise about why he was picked up and what caused his death less than a day later.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Yet University City has never developed the kind of independent dining culture that has flourished in other parts of Charlotte.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
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Offer availability, placement, and display are determined by the third party and may be influenced by compensation and other factors.—
Brian Sloan,Dan Avery,
CNBC,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Quondam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/quondam. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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