antique 1 of 2

adjective

(ˌ)an-ˈtēk How to pronounce antique (audio)
Definition of antiquenext
1
as in ancient
dating or surviving from the distant past studied shards from antique pots made by the Pueblos of the Southwest

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in vintage
pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time loved to collect antique sugar tongs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

antique

2 of 2

noun

(ˌ)an-ˈtēk How to pronounce antique (audio)
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
Offerings of peanuts, lily buds, red dates, and lucky candies were placed in antique silver butter dishes Cheng brought from home. —Lisa Wong MacAbasco, Vogue, 22 May 2025 At Lingering Memories Antiques and Collectibles, vintage and antique dealers peddle their goods in a sprawling 12,500 square foot store. —Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 20 May 2025
Noun
The museum hosts part of Bravo’s personal collection, including priceless antiques from Mali, Japan and Morocco, dinosaur fossils, and paintings by Francis Bacon. —Carlotta Dotto, CNN Money, 8 May 2025 Slow decorating encourages finding antiques, buying used but quality items, and updating older pieces for continued use. —Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for antique
Recent Examples of Synonyms for antique
  1. ancient
  2. vintage
  3. artifact
  4. venerable
  5. retro
  6. relic
  7. medieval
  8. historic
Adjective
  • For example, the presence of clay minerals indicates past interactions between volcanic materials and water, hinting at the possibility of ancient habitable environments, according to the statement.
    — Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 6 June 2025
  • Casablanca has opened its first stand-alone store at 62 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, and is shaking up the neighborhood with a colorful, youthful energy and interiors inspired by ancient Greece, Japan and the game of tennis.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 6 June 2025
Definition of ancient
Adjective
  • The vintage weather was perfect and allowed for early ripening.
    — John Mariani, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025
  • The home has its original hardwood floors, and vintage fixtures and historic interior trim, Williams said.
    — Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 31 May 2025
Definition of vintage
Noun
  • The $15 admission ticket grants you access to the original 19th-century Italianate villa, the classic boxwood parterre garden, and a museum filled with photos and other artifacts detailing the Barnsley family's history.
    — Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 31 May 2025
  • With a super-bright laser light engine, image speckle, as in grainy, shimmering artifacts, can become an issue.
    — Benny Har-Even, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
Definition of artifact
Adjective
  • Nearly 25 years have passed since an upstart Harlem minister tried to unseat the venerable Charlie Rangel, as much an institution as the Apollo Theater or the nearby Lenox Lounge.
    — Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 31 May 2025
  • This is thanks to the venerable Hass variety, discovered in the 1920s by a Pasadena mail carrier-turned-grower, Rudolph Hass.
    — Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
Definition of venerable
Adjective
  • The series is based on the popular Bethesda Game Studios games and features a post-apocalyptic wasteland of a retro American West.
    — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 5 June 2025
  • Product Details: Material: Crystal | Capacity: 10.5 ounces | Number of Glasses in Set: Four Best Coupe Champagne Glasses Bring retro glamour to your bar cart with the help of the Wolcott Optic coupe from Crate & Barrel.
    — Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
Definition of retro
Noun
  • But the Mayor’s Management Report (MMR), launched in 1977, is a relic — thousands of stats that don’t answer the only question that matters: is government actually solving problems?
    — Melanie La Rocca, New York Daily News, 27 May 2025
  • This is why gold has glittered year to date, and why the yellow relic’s move higher is likely to continue.
    — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
Definition of relic
Adjective
  • Seton Hall Prep: Sweeney’s father had been a professor of medieval English at Seton Hall University.
    — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 2 June 2025
  • The new study, published in Antiquity, suggests that this wall was an important part of frontier life and provides a more complex picture of society in medieval Mongolia.
    — Stephanie Edwards, Discover Magazine, 29 May 2025
Definition of medieval
Adjective
  • Your town may have a trash pickup walk, a Thanksgiving turkey trot or a stroll to historic sites.
    — Elizabeth Passarella, New York Times, 6 June 2025
  • Congress passed the historic bank bailout during her first semester.
    — Megan Greenwell, Rolling Stone, 5 June 2025
Definition of historic

Browse Nearby Words

antiquation
antique
antiques
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Cite this Entry

“Antique.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antique. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on antique

Nglish: Translation of antique for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about antique

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