RUSTY Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

rusty

adjective

ˈrə-stē

Definition of rusty

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

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 Swirling green paisley-likefloral motifs decorated the beige-gold fabric, with patches of rusty orange and deeper green throughout. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2026 Panarin beat rusty backup Semyon Varlamov glove side twice, and Darcy Kuemper kept making stops even as his rebound control was lacking, finishing with 41 saves. — Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Sunny yellow, warm cinnamon, pastel pink, royal purple, rusty red—these are just a few of the available colors of chrysanthemums. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Oct. 2026 The lower part of work table in front of walk-in cooler is broken and rusty. — Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rusty

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rusty

Adjective

In addition, the belief that hip-hop artists are required to acquiesce and musically circumscribe themselves to appease mainstream audiences is archaic in many respects.

— Preezy Brown, Rolling Stone, 27 Oct. 2026
In addition, the belief that hip-hop artists are required to acquiesce and musically circumcise themselves to appease mainstream audiences is archaic in many respects.

— Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of archaic

Adjective

His voice sounded hoarse from his marathon of back-to-back rallies ahead of Election Day.

— Shahrzad Rasekh Patrick Cooley Mark Bonamo Kevin Williams, New York Times, 30 Oct. 2026
Now life was like that; some days fine and firm and full of whatever, while other days the hoarse bark of the neighbors’ dog or a friend’s grim diagnosis and her body succumbed to an emotional gravity that pulled her into a free fall.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of hoarse

Adjective

The spreadsheet era has lasted far too long, along with QA practices that were rendered obsolete three to four years ago.

— Stefan Gogoll, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
For Picasso, the new was power; its will to render obsolete what came before was as irresistible as a force of nature.

— Michael Brenson, Vogue, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of obsolete

Adjective

The two-time Oscar winner wrote in his upcoming memoir, Look at Me, that Nichols was gruff in their interactions.

— Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Nov. 2026
Loneliness looms as a threat to all genders, but men, who are lauded for gruff stoicism and scorned for vulnerability, can be especially ill-equipped to navigate atomization.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of gruff

Adjective

Move beyond antiquated notions of making your first three seconds a logo and a tagline.

— Phoena Pang, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026
Causes include an antiquated business model, declining advertising revenue and hedge-fund buyouts that have gutted papers.

— Pamela E. Walck, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2026

Definition of antiquated

Adjective

Mariah's voice, husky and effusive, and then the rumble of a man answering.

— CBS News, CBS News, 10 Nov. 2026
Gomez, who has a noticeably husky, raspy voice at times, answered a fan question about her vocal quirkiness during an Instagram Live session last December.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of husky

Adjective

Designed for ages 3 to 12, the shiny indoor space is cleverly set up into various imaginative zones, from a plush mediaeval princess castle to a play gym with climbing wall.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
Its six books promised to take me from a medieval royal court to a post-alien-invasion-near-future, via 1980s Jamaica, 1990s Scotland, 2020s Massachusetts and present-day London.

— Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of medieval

Adjective

There have been lows—trying to manufacture a viral dance in an empty pub alongside a dwarf Michael Jackson impersonator among them—but Skepta is old enough to own those now, and grow from them.

— Will Pritchard, Pitchfork, 9 Nov. 2026
California has a rich and varied history — and San Jose is the oldest civilian community in the state.

— John Ramos, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of old

Browse Nearby Words

rusts

rusty

rut

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Rusty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rusty. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of rusty

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

boilerplate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes