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
Adjective
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Many old documents are written in an archaic hand the practice of which has fallen out of use.—
Daniel Foster,
National Review,
23 Jan. 2025 -
Shaw seems to study less than any pre-med in recorded history, rebeling against a Mommy Dearest played as an archaic caricature of rich snobbery by Nancy De Mayo.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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While that was up 16.2% from a year earlier, the inventory remained well below the annual historical average of about 1.98 million, according to data going back to 1999.—
ALEX VEIGA THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
arkansasonline.com,
25 Jan. 2025
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Folsom Lake is at 37 percent capacity, which is 84 percent of its historical average.—
Gordon G. Chang,
Newsweek,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This fear increases as the family turns against itself, escaping Tehran for Iman’s hometown, stalking and hiding within a literal old-world maze.—
Armond White,
National Review,
22 Jan. 2025
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The designer collaborated with the clients to create a home that embodied the charm of an old-world find with modern comforts, which can be seen by way of the vintage iron bed that anchors the guest bedroom and also includes a primitive English desk and antique velvet Art Deco armchair.—
Troy J. McMullen,
Architectural Digest,
17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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By contrast, Frazier took on the role of outmoded power, compliant duty.—
Mikal Gilmore,
Rolling Stone,
17 Jan. 2025
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This is particularly true when the prevailing stereotypes are based on outmoded information.—
Mark C. Perna,
Forbes,
17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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One of the most photographed objects in the night sky is the Ring Nebula, wreckage of a bygone sun-like star about 2,000 light-years from Earth.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
20 Jan. 2025
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The show contained tributes to bygone collaborators like the late David Bowie, whose prequel film character Agent Phillip Jeffries was shown transmuted into a large, kettle-like machine.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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Meanwhile, the wooden bleachers inside the antiquated stadium were covered by 84,059 seat cushions with an Apple logo, a marketing decision that Steve Jobs personally approved when approached by an NFL executive.—
Mark Purdy,
The Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2025
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One of the most perplexing and seemingly antiquated features of City Hall got a lot of use Tuesday: a bulletin board where motions are posted for public viewing.—
Tony Barboza,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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According to the Louvre’s own findings, some 80 percent of ticket holders visit the Salle des États to see the 16th century portrait—that’s between 20,000-30,000 visitors a day, well beyond what the historic gallery was intended to accommodate.—
Tessa Solomon for ARTnews,
Robb Report,
24 Jan. 2025
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Net income for the year reached a historic high of $10.1 billion, with earnings per share climbing 25% from the previous year to $14.01.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
24 Jan. 2025
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Thesaurus Entries Near atavistic
Cite this Entry
“Atavistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavistic. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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