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antique

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noun

as in artifact
something belonging to or surviving from an earlier period their house is filled with rare antiques, including a collection of 19th-century African masks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective antique differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of antique are ancient, antiquated, archaic, obsolete, old, and venerable. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time.

collected antique Chippendale furniture

In what contexts can ancient take the place of antique?

The words ancient and antique are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

ancient accounts of dragons

When is antiquated a more appropriate choice than antique?

The words antiquated and antique can be used in similar contexts, but antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time.

antiquated teaching methods

When might archaic be a better fit than antique?

In some situations, the words archaic and antique are roughly equivalent. However, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.

the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

When would obsolete be a good substitute for antique?

The meanings of obsolete and antique largely overlap; however, obsolete may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence.

a computer that makes earlier models obsolete

When can old be used instead of antique?

While the synonyms old and antique are close in meaning, old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

old houses
an old sweater of mine

When is it sensible to use venerable instead of antique?

The synonyms venerable and antique are sometimes interchangeable, but venerable stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age.

the family's venerable patriarch

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 antique
Adjective
Warm woods, arches, and antique chairs soften up the space. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 4 Feb. 2025 Today, people can stand in awe – or at least benign curiosity – at the inventor’s life at the Larry Spring Museum, an artist-run nonprofit accessed through an antique shop called Lost Coast Found. John Metcalfe, The Mercury News, 3 Feb. 2025
Noun
In 2019, the firm paid an undisclosed sum for the work, purchasing it from an anonymous antiques collector who found it at a Minnesota garage sale. Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 31 Jan. 2025 Barber brightened up this dark mahogany, traditional office space with contemporary pieces, such as a lucite coffee table, mixed with antiques, reproductions, Rose Tarlow pieces, and the client’s collection of art. Dan Howarth, Architectural Digest, 30 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for antique 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antique
Adjective
  • Researchers in London recently uncovered a 2,000-year-old structure that once served as the hub of the bustling ancient city.
    Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2025
  • Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect that the plesiosaur is considered a successful marine predatory ancient species.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Serious architectural salvage may be found at Ricca’s, two blocks over—a treasure trove of bird baths, bank lamps, and vintage door knockers.
    Jenny Adams, AFAR Media, 11 Feb. 2025
  • As Parents previously reported, some other baby name trends worth noting include vintage names like Louise, Dorothy, and Archie, which are making a return.
    Anna Halkidis, Parents, 11 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Every stone, every artifact is a testament to their strength.
    Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 10 Feb. 2025
  • Computer history talk Computer History Museum docent David Hoyt will present stories drawn from artifacts on display at the Mountain View museum on Feb. 17 at 7 pm.
    Anne Gelhaus, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • The suit and the FCC request have spurred intense concern in the West 57th Street offices of the venerable newsmagazine.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 6 Feb. 2025
  • The outbreak is intensifying as the Trump administration maintains a pause on most external federal health agency communications, including publication of CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), a venerable source of scientific reports on public health.
    Alex Golden, Axios, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Her party themes lean into the home’s retro architecture and furnishings.
    Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2025
  • Sporty, retro sneakers are still trending for the months ahead, especially pairs with slim, walking-friendly soles.
    Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 9 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • By Result By Alice Gibbs Senior Life and Trends Reporter 0 A fan of retro-futurism and survivalist relics has taken things to a new level, sharing the opening of a 70-year-old can of emergency drinking water.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
  • There’s really no escaping this last relic of U.S. monoculture.
    Samantha Allen, Them, 30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The pups become Aqua Pups who wear scuba gear, or medieval knights who wear armor, or super pups with superpowers--all changes that create new toys for parents to buy their eager children.
    Alana Semuels, TIME, 14 Feb. 2025
  • The Italian-American medieval epic El Cid (1961) saw Page perfectly cast as the scheming Princess Urraca.
    Rhett Bartlett, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • One factor that has been holding back the cash rate’s descent has been the strength of the labor market, with unemployment rate hovering near a historic low level of 4.0% in December.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Thierry can be a little cynical about historic buildings in this country compared to the centuries-old architecture in his native France, but he was fascinated by Savannah’s urban planning and construction.
    Frances MacDougall, Southern Living, 17 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near antique

Cite this Entry

“Antique.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antique. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on antique

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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