atavistic

adjective

Definition of atavisticnext
as in archaic
formal very primitive
—used to describe feelings or qualities that human beings have had from the earliest times atavistic instincts reverting to atavistic behavior

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for atavistic
  1. archaic
  2. historical
  3. old-world
  4. outmoded
  5. bygone
  6. prehistoric
  7. antiquated
  8. historic
Adjective
  • Coppola’s emphasis on white protagonist Cesar is, in Hollywood liberal terms, facile and archaic.
    Armond White, National Review, 4 Oct. 2024
  • While Walter’s traditional village represents an archaic and beautiful (though flawed) way of living, Nina’s sojourns into the mountains are like time-traveling to a worse, more restrictive way of life.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2024
Definition of archaic
Adjective
  • The Dow closed up, which aligned with the historical trend of market rallies on Election Day.
    Dan Mangan,Kevin Breuninger,Rebecca Picciotto,Ece Yildirim,Annie Nova, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
  • The theory proposes that each generation should be considered a separate social group formed by specific historical events and social and cultural environments.
    Boris Abaev, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of historical
Adjective
  • Arriving via the gorgeous gardens of Grosvenor Square, my partner and I oohed and aahed at the imposing marble, opulent chandeliers and old-world glamour of the hotel lobby.
    Caroline Dolby, theweek, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Other old-world details include an ornamental chandelier in the amenity space reproduced from an original design that once hung in Steinway Hall.
    Jessica Cherner, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of old-world
Adjective
  • Benioff previously compared Microsoft’s Copilot to the outmoded paperclip tool, Clippy.
    Chloe Berger, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024
  • The two ownership groups sought rezoning for the entire property because the old zoning fell under the city’s outmoded Chapter 59 zoning code first drafted in the 1950s.
    Joe Rubino, The Denver Post, 15 Oct. 2024
Definition of outmoded
Adjective
  • This might be an uncomfortable statement for some, particularly those who find belief in any sort of deity to be an outdated relic of a bygone era.
    Donovan McAbee, TIME, 28 Oct. 2024
  • Not quite a Saturday morning canyon carver, instead this Benz serves perfectly as the Sunday brunch cruiser, a true time capsule from a bygone era of motoring that Mercedes, and almost every automaker, can still learn from today.
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Definition of bygone
Adjective
  • Uncle Jack Cassidy lives on the island which is filled with new dinosaur species, giant insects and prehistoric amphibians.
    Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Godzilla: Dressing up as a prehistoric dinosaurian monster never gets old.
    Isabella Milano, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2024
Definition of prehistoric
Adjective
  • Such a prospect is one that the city’s antiquated water orthodoxy has never managed to fathom.
    Tom Philp, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Ahead of Election Day Cyclorama: The Shape of Things contains a wide spread of imagery: footage on both pro- and anti-segregation riots, recordings from antiquated circus acts featuring a dancing elephant, silhouettes of what appear to be Southern belles in hoop skirts that laugh over tea.
    Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • The broad inability of liberals to understand Trump’s political appeal except in terms flattering to their beliefs is itself part of the explanation for his historic, and entirely avoidable, comeback.
    Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Council District 1 race The district is an older and more historic area of the city with ties dating back to the Mormon pioneer times.
    Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Definition of historic
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near atavistic

atavisms

atavistic

at close quarters

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Cite this Entry

“Atavistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavistic. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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