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as in boring
causing weariness, restlessness, or lack of interest even the most stirring speeches start to get old after you've heard them a few times

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

old

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noun

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an old woman
an elderly woman
an octogenarian woman
a senior woman
a grandmotherly woman
an elder woman
an old house
an outdated house
an obsolete house
a previous house
a former house
an earlier house
old days
ancient days
archaic days
long-past days
in-those days
simpler days
an old town
a historic town
a classic town
a historical town
an ancient town
an old friend
a longtime friend
a past friend
a familiar friend
a longstanding friend
a previous friend

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective old differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of old are ancient, antiquated, antique, archaic, obsolete, and venerable. While all these words mean "having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past," old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

old houses
an old sweater of mine

When can ancient be used instead of old?

While in some cases nearly identical to old, ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

ancient accounts of dragons

When might antiquated be a better fit than old?

In some situations, the words antiquated and old are roughly equivalent. However, antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time.

antiquated teaching methods

When would antique be a good substitute for old?

The meanings of antique and old largely overlap; however, antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time.

collected antique Chippendale furniture

When is archaic a more appropriate choice than old?

While the synonyms archaic and old are close in meaning, archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.

the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

In what contexts can obsolete take the place of old?

The words obsolete and old are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 is it sensible to use venerable instead of old?

The words venerable and old can be used in similar contexts, 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 old
Adjective
The movie set, like all others, should have only had blanks on hand, but somehow a number of live rounds made their way to the location and one such bullet ended up in the gun that went off as Hutchins and Baldwin lined up a shot in an old church. Marco Della Cava, USA Today, 1 May 2025 With Venus retrograde in Aries starting on March 1 and affecting your career and outward expression, old insecurities about your worth and ambitions may surface. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025
Noun
Two 17-year-olds have been charged as adults in the gruesome stabbing earlier this month of a 14-year-old in Snohomish County, Washington. Brie Stimson, Fox News, 29 Dec. 2024 Two 14-year-olds and a 15-year-old were injured. Mike D'onofrio, Axios, 16 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for old
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old
Adjective
  • The photo highlights the relative youth of human civilization by showing a 2,500-year-old temple that is ancient by the yardstick of human lives, alongside the 4.5 billion-year-old disk of Earth's moon, which has watched over humanity since our ancestors emerged from the oceans.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 May 2025
  • Drive around the island and catch glimpses of past civilizations: ancient fig trees propped up by wooden crutches; centuries-old windmills that look like giant antique flyswatters; stone walls built by the Moors during the Middle Ages that somehow still look new.
    Julia Chaplin, Travel + Leisure, 13 May 2025
Adjective
  • Douglas Brick, a former student at the University of Utah, disappeared on Oct. 12, 1973, according to information from police and the school in Salt Lake City.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 16 May 2025
  • The group claims a man named Bradley James, who allegedly worked as a bodyguard for Megan Thee Stallion’s former best friend Kelsey Harris, witnessed a conversation that proved Harris pulled the trigger.
    DeMicia Inman, VIBE.com, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • The Salon Clutch Structured yet theatrical, Le Salon is Jacquemus’s answer to the evening clutch—pared back, but never boring.
    Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 10 May 2025
  • Even Jiro himself, originally thought the film would be boring, Gelb admitted.
    Kristin L. Wolfe, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025
Noun
  • The fair’s eleventh edition hosted 91 international exhibitors, including 13 new galleries that showcased modern and contemporary art, antiquities, jewelry and design objects.
    Anthony DeMarco, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • Its New York offshoot shows much more recent art: Two-thirds of exhibitors are modern and contemporary galleries, and other exhibitors offer antiquities and jewelry.
    Farah Nayeri, New York Times, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Authorities were working to identify some of the victims, most of whom were elderly women.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2025
  • Owners vow new appeal in case of CT dog that killed an elderly woman Six-year court battle over the dog that killed an elderly woman is on track to continue even as total expenses run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
    Diana Urban, Hartford Courant, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • After being overhauled in major fashion earlier this year, the venerable evening newscast, which has direct ties to Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather, is likely to get some new twists and tweaks.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 19 May 2025
  • Michael Teo Van Runkle Michael Teo Van Runkle The venerable EA888 engine.
    Michael Teo Van Runkle, ArsTechnica, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Manfred, like other MLB commissioners before him, had rejected Rose’s petitions for reinstatement while the erstwhile slugger was still alive.
    Chris Branch, New York Times, 14 May 2025
  • Radcliffe will play Arthur Tobin, an award-winning filmmaker who moves into Reggie's mansion to shoot an immersive documentary about the erstwhile star athlete.
    Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Not just on the training pitch but in the dorm rooms, talking about the future and giggling at stupid jokes.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 21 May 2025
  • President Donald Trump said only stupid people would refuse a $400 million gift.
    Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 17 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Old.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/old. Accessed 25 May. 2025.

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