throwback 1 of 2

noun

Definition of throwbacknext
as in fogy
a person or thing that is similar to someone or something from the past or that is suited to an earlier time
—usually + to She's a throwback to the actresses of the 1950s. The band's music is a throwback to the 1980s.

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Dissimilar Words

throw back

2 of 2

verb

as in to return

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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 throwback
Noun
Cruise’s performance as oil tycoon Digger Rockwell is a clear throwback to his dual triumph in 1999. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026 Earlier on Tuesday, Romano took to Instagram to share a throwback photo of herself with LaBeouf and his father during the days of Even Stevens, which ran on Disney Channel from 2000 to 2003. — Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2026 Karol donned a cowboy hat for the song, a thrilling throwback to '90s Tejano. — Joey Guerra, Houston Chronicle, 28 Sep. 2026 By reaching orbit on September 28, Starship also provided an unexpected throwback to Falcon 1, which reached orbit exactly 18 years ago, on September 28, 2008. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for throwback
Recent Examples of Synonyms for throwback
  1. fogy
  2. return
  3. fossil
  4. fall
  5. old-timer
  6. decline
  7. has-been
  8. degenerate
Noun
  • There’s no old fogey-ness to Lorne.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 20 Apr. 2026
  • For the benefit of us old fogies?
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
Definition of fogy
Verb
  • Reps for Bryan and Gillette stadium did not immediately return a request for comment.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026
  • After agents left and returned, Cole agreed to continue speaking and provided more details.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of return
Noun
  • The City of Boulder and Boulder County, Colorado, in 2018 sued major fossil-fuel producers Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy, seeking financial damages under state public nuisance law.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Ozone, which is made up of three oxygen atoms, forms when emissions of other pollutants such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides from fossil-fuel burning or wildfires mix with sunlight and heat.
    — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of fossil
Verb
  • Court dances fell out of fashion as monarchs fell from power.
    — Sophie Landres, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Odds of a Fed hike at its October meeting fell further, with traders now pricing in a hold, per the CME Group’s FedWatch tool.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of fall
Noun
  • While the boys bicker over stickball rules, old-timers Keith Hernandez, Willie Randolph and Tom Seaver argue from a stoop.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • There are the old-timers who have been cracking jokes on stage since before Gen Zers were born, including Marc Maron, Chelsea Handler and Martin Lawrence.
    — Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of old-timer
Verb
  • The parties involved in the litigation—as well as Red Lobster itself, which is not being sued—declined to comment for this article, but their court filings lay out the sad saga in dramatic detail.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026
  • But campus police made no arrests, and the district attorney, Matthew Van Houten, initially declined to pursue charges against the seven fraternity brothers.
    — Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of decline
Noun
  • The manuscript Wayne read to us that night chronicled his involvement with Gloria Swanson, the towering star of Hollywood’s Golden Age who enjoyed latter-day acclaim in 1950 playing a delusional has-been in Sunset Boulevard.
    — Mike Hogan, Vanity Fair, 24 Sep. 2026
  • That career move quickly fizzled, leaving a sloppy drunk has-been in the debris.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of has-been
Verb
  • Fay degenerated on Tuesday, but by Thursday afternoon was once again a strengthening tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, moving west at 6 mph in the central Atlantic, according to the hurricane center.
    — Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 24 Sep. 2026
  • The National Hurricane Center says Fay could degenerate to a post-tropical cyclone in a day or two.
    — Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of degenerate

Browse Nearby Words

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Cite this Entry

“Throwback.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/throwback. Accessed 8 Oct. 2026.

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