1
as in archaic
having passed its time of use or usefulness
rusty laws still on the books because no one bothered to repeal them
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hoarse
harsh and dry in sound
in a rusty voice the old man ordered us off his land
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 rusty
The sight recalls scenes from environmental disaster movies — an otherwise emerald green surface of river thickly covered with plastic bottles, pieces of wood or furniture, rusty barrels, home appliances or even dead animals.
—
Eldar Emric, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
On the morning of her death, Piper James had gone for a swim alone on the beach near the rusty hull of the Maheno shipwreck, a local landmark that washed ashore in a cyclone almost 100 years ago.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
As the last rusty leaves fell from the trees in the parks and historic piazzas, the birds swooped down, rummaging and pecking and shaking their feathers, then flew off again with quivers of delight.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Dotted with log cabins, the interiors of Dunton Hot Springs are warm and distinctly Western—old rusty trucks and wagons serve as decorative accents throughout the property.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rusty
Eldar Emric, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2026
On the morning of her death, Piper James had gone for a swim alone on the beach near the rusty hull of the Maheno shipwreck, a local landmark that washed ashore in a cyclone almost 100 years ago.
—Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
As the last rusty leaves fell from the trees in the parks and historic piazzas, the birds swooped down, rummaging and pecking and shaking their feathers, then flew off again with quivers of delight.
—Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
Dotted with log cabins, the interiors of Dunton Hot Springs are warm and distinctly Western—old rusty trucks and wagons serve as decorative accents throughout the property.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for rusty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rusty
Adjective
-
Now, athletes should be able to dissect loopholes within the archaic NCAA eligibility system, which seems to be dissolving slowly in real time.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Amid the nods to social media and cancel culture and the shallow perils of modern celebrity, the image of Taylor-Joy’s disciplined group of insurgents, who speak in almost archaic, poetic dialogue, strikes a bracing contrast.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
One of them, fist raised to the sky, let out a long yell, the hoarse shout of a gold panner.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
November 17, 2025 What To Know During an Oval Office meeting focused primarily on preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Trump sounded hoarse when speaking with reporters and officials.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
In this new era of stakeholder management, however, broad frameworks, generalized commitments, and aspirational language are obsolete.—
Martin Whittaker,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
-
If the item still works but is obsolete (like a DVD player or VHS tape deck), try posting it in a local Buy Nothing or Freecycling group.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The characters are well developed and unpredictable—perhaps none more so than John Stone, Nasir’s gruff public-defense attorney.—
Stephanie Bai,
The Atlantic,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Also present was the gruff playwright.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The hospitals struggled over the years under the company with inadequate staffing and antiquated equipment.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
13 Feb. 2026
-
New York City must overhaul our antiquated, closed primary system.—
Torsha Childs,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
One such pet, Lainey, a husky shepherd, was found after going missing in Arizona with the help of a neighbor's Ring camera.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The team can help plan reindeer and husky rides, reindeer farm visits, snowmobiles tours across the area’s fells and taiga forests, or Aurora-chasing tours, guided by local experts.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The main sitting area, between the Coquille d’Or bar and the reception area, feels at once Art Deco and Arts & Crafts with its blend of old and modern– carpets with foliage motifs, a mix of travertine and oak, medieval tapestries and vintage Louis XIII-style armchairs.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Poison has become less a medieval cliché than a geopolitical signature flourish in recent years.—
Freddie Clayton,
NBC news,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The oldest American woman to compete in the women’s singles event in nearly a century now sits in a distant 13th place ahead of the 4-minute free skate on Thursday night.—
Brittany Ghiroli,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Lowenthal has spoken highly of Australia’s similar ban, which went into effect in December and bans accounts for all children under 16 years old.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rusty. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
