Definition of relicnext
1
2
as in antique
something belonging to or surviving from an earlier period in my grandparents' attic are many "groovy" relics from the 1960s

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in dinosaur
one that has passed the peak of effectiveness or popularity his courtly manners marked him as a relic of a more refined and formal era

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in remains
relics plural a dead body though it is believed that missionary died in New Guinea, his relics have never been found

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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 relic Vintage-style posters that look like charming relics from the park's past are scattered throughout Dollywood. Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026 Both of these franchises feel old and tired now, relics of another age. Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 18 Jan. 2026 Supermodel Karlie Kloss remembered wearing chokers and using the Snapchat puppy filter, a true mid-2010s relic. Scottie Andrew, CNN Money, 17 Jan. 2026 In October, a New Orleans couple unearthed a mysterious Roman relic in their backyard, setting off an investigation into its origin. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 17 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for relic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for relic
Noun
  • The study’s authors further stated that the poison found in the artifacts would not have killed prey instantly, but rather slowed prey down, thereby making the animal easier to catch.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Get a close look at more than 400 photos and 500 original artifacts from those who survived and died at the concentration camp.
    Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 11 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Look for wrought iron, brass, or bronze versions via antiques dealers, Etsy, or eBay.
    Hannah Coates, Vogue, 28 Jan. 2026
  • While there, take a tour of the Copper Fox Distillery or shop for antiques at The Velvet Shoestring.
    Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The Transformers-like toys resemble McDonald's food but can change into robots or dinosaurs.
    Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Akin to Transformers, Changeables are toys that look like McDonald's menu items but can be reconfigured into figures that look like, for instance, robots or dinosaurs.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Development on Titanique traces back a decade, when Mindelle, Rousouli and co-creator Ty Blue (Titanique's director) dreamed up the show and staged a concert presentation in.
    Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
  • Some fruit pits and seeds, like those in apples and pears, contain traces of cyanide, which is harmful to birds.
    Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Ken Blake Brea Sorry to see Jerry Neuheisel leave UCLA to join traitor and coaching has-been Chip Kelly at Northwestern.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2026
  • All this success begs the legitimate question of how the once-struggling reality show for has-been celebrities reinvented itself and became a pop-cultural phenomenon that any public figure would be lucky to utilize as their re-introduction into the zeitgeist.
    McKinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • His family spent an agonizing week searching through morgues, hospitals and detention facilities before finally identifying his body among piles of corpses, also shown in the viral footage.
    Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Gynae Kendall, 25, was charged Sunday with concealment of a human corpse.
    John Annese, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Every corner of the island bears witness to physical remnants of the seven nations whose flags once crowned its edifices, giving visitors the impression of exploring a living history book still intact.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Jan. 2026
  • In the recent study, researchers used ancient DNA remnants to reconstruct the bacterium's genome.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Notably, a 2025 study published in Nature Communications observed that baleen whale migration (including gray whales) facilitates the transportation of essential nutrients — from their placenta, carcasses and even their urea — between polar feeding grounds and tropical breeding areas.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Besides being in the right environment, the carcasses also have to avoid becoming a snack for hungry scavengers like birds and hyenas.
    Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Relic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/relic. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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