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
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for atavistic
Adjective
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But not the kind of mentorship that lies in the old, hierarchical, and archaic approach.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
22 July 2025 -
There’s a separate debate as to the archaic nature of email itself and the need for something new.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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Supporters say the bill aims to protect historical monuments, not restrict peaceful protest.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
25 July 2025
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All the [senior] command of the Manhattan Project [were present] to record the moment for historical purposes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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Opened in 1912, this grand railway-era hotel blends old-world elegance with an unbeatable location: steps from Parliament Hill and close to the Rideau Canal, and downtown’s top museums and restaurants.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Travel + Leisure,
22 July 2025
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The bedroom is fitted with south-facing windows that allow natural light to flood the space and a 19th-century fireplace that adds a touch of old-world charm.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
21 July 2025
Adjective
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The problem is worsened by the broken and outmoded state of the Oscars’ Best International Feature category, which lets foreign governments handpick their own submissions and launder their public images.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
25 June 2025
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Slow and costly interconnection processes and outmoded grid planning can prevent meaningful progress.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
Adjective
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But those days are long gone, and a time where a host had an eight-figure annual contract to host a daily show in a midtown Manhattan theater with 400 seats and a staff that topped 100 seems like a relic of a bygone era.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
18 July 2025
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Both bands are heavily inspired by music of a bygone era.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 July 2025
Adjective
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The Taung Child’s remains were found alongside other smaller prey remains and eggshells in what may be a prehistoric raptor’s nest.—
Joshua Rapp Learn,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 July 2025
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The Neumark-Nord site in central Germany is turning out to be a prehistoric goldmine, and not just for bones.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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In a later post, Trump threatened to scuttle the Commanders' plans for a new stadium, which would move the team from its current location in Maryland back to the nation's capital after renovating an antiquated stadium on federal property.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
20 July 2025
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Updated our antiquated Town Charter to modernize governance, align with state statutes, and ensure transparency.—
Danielle Wong,
Hartford Courant,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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Located in the historic French Quarter, the cathedral is part of a broader cultural landscape that includes jazz institutions such as Preservation Hall, the Maple Leaf Bar, and Kermit's Treme Mother-in-Law Lounge.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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The city of Miami wants to give the historic Olympia Theater to a public charter school known as SLAM, which stands for Sports Leadership Arts Management.—
Carl David Goette-Luciak,
Miami Herald,
23 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Atavistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavistic. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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