variants
also prehistorical
as in medieval
having passed its time of use or usefulness
prehistoric notions about mental illness that have no place in today's world
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of prehistoric
Russia’s permafrost, now thawing because of climate change, has uncovered several incredible prehistoric discoveries in recent years.
—
Hannah Peart, NBC News, 24 Dec. 2024
Every outing felt like a trip back to prehistoric times — like Jurassic Park by sea.
Amenities and Entertainment
Almost all daily excursions are included in the fare, with only truly over the top things like helicopter tours at extra cost.
—Janice Wald Henderson, Travel + Leisure, 23 Dec. 2024
Does the music industry instantly revert to the prehistoric epoch of 2017—will Snapchat become the hottest major label scouting ground?
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Jan. 2025
The objects were removed from the site before the start of construction during two years of careful digging and include prehistoric tools and other artifacts made by human hands, as well as exceedingly rare and well-preserved animal and plant remnants.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for prehistoric 
Hannah Peart, NBC News, 24 Dec. 2024
Every outing felt like a trip back to prehistoric times — like Jurassic Park by sea.
Amenities and Entertainment
Almost all daily excursions are included in the fare, with only truly over the top things like helicopter tours at extra cost.
—Janice Wald Henderson, Travel + Leisure, 23 Dec. 2024
Does the music industry instantly revert to the prehistoric epoch of 2017—will Snapchat become the hottest major label scouting ground?
—Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 17 Jan. 2025
The objects were removed from the site before the start of construction during two years of careful digging and include prehistoric tools and other artifacts made by human hands, as well as exceedingly rare and well-preserved animal and plant remnants.
—Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for prehistoric
Recent Examples of Synonyms for prehistoric
Adjective
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Just two hours north of London, but what feels like an entire world away, the region is best known for its vast, dune-like beaches, crumbling medieval abbeys, and grande dame stately homes.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
4 Feb. 2025
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Similar to many of her past looks — from her Lady Liberty getup at 2024's Governors Ball to her medieval fashion at the 2024 MTV VMAs — Roan's red carpet ensemble was camp and daring.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The skull fragments, teeth, jaws and other remains unearthed at different sites across the country are clearly remnants of archaic hominins — the formal name for species in the human lineage — who lived between 300,000 and 100,000 years ago.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN,
24 Jan. 2025
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In recent months, the Justice Department and the state filed thousands of pages of new records in the lawsuit, including reports and sworn statements from pediatricians, scholars and others who describe Florida’s policies as archaic and cruel.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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In recent years, however, the idea of belonging to traditional civic organizations is perceived to be obsolete.—
John Hewko,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Feb. 2025
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The intrigue: The proposals include repealing a Denver law passed in 2019 allowing adults to possess psychedelics, with licensing staff saying the 2022 state law makes the local law obsolete.—
Esteban L. Hernandez,
Axios,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Because some of the paintings depict a person drumming with their hands, researchers suggest the neolithic people practiced rituals in these areas.—
Joshua Rapp Learn,
Discover Magazine,
15 Jan. 2025
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At sunrise this morning, about 15,000 people gathered at Stonehenge — the world’s most famous neolithic monument — to mark the arrival of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near prehistoric
Cite this Entry
“Prehistoric.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/prehistoric. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.
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