1
as in venerable
dating or surviving from the distant past
Rome's ancient ruins remain carefully preserved even in the midst of the bustle of the modern city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in older
being of advanced years and especially past middle age
used to think that age 40 was ancient until I turned 40 myself
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in primitive
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period
the ancient Inca built a vast network of roads
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in elder
a person of advanced years
ancients in the tribe are accorded great respect and valued for their wisdom
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ancient
Asia London Palomba, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025
The origins of the role actually have their roots in ancient Egypt, where a young boy would be enlisted to carry rings to a couple as a symbol of love, fidelity, and fertility.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 10 July 2025
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025
No full moons, no silver bullets, no ancients curses and the like, just a title card at the beginning of the film stating that wolf man sightings have been a phenomenon since indigenious peoples ruled the Americas.
—Scott Phillips, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancient
Adjective
After eight years of research, archaeologists have unveiled an ancient city in Peru that may have been a flourishing hub for trade 3,500 years ago.
—Asia London Palomba, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025
The origins of the role actually have their roots in ancient Egypt, where a young boy would be enlisted to carry rings to a couple as a symbol of love, fidelity, and fertility.
—Shelby Wax, Vogue, 10 July 2025
Noun
Read More: These 5 Ancient Civilizations Treasured Their Pets
Coping with Critters
The discovery of archeological remains has helped scientists better understand how ancients coped with bothersome critters.
—Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025
No full moons, no silver bullets, no ancients curses and the like, just a title card at the beginning of the film stating that wolf man sightings have been a phenomenon since indigenious peoples ruled the Americas.
—Scott Phillips, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancient
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancient
Adjective
-
For those who don't know, Area 51 is a large, secretive military base in the remote Nevada desert where several exotic military aircraft have been developed and tested over the years, including the venerable U-2 spy plane way back when.—
Jim Clash,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
-
The show’s venerable former executive producer resigned in April as corporate executives sought to assert more control over the newsmagazine, which has long operated with a degree of independence from the rest of CBS News.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.—
Joseph J. Kolb,
Fox News,
18 July 2017
-
Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
OregonLive.com,
OregonLive.com,
12 July 2017
Noun
-
That comports with the widespread belief that sharp increases in the cost of living during the Biden-Harris administration were a big factor in the pro-Trump shift, as younger voters felt the pinch of inflation more than their elders.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
8 July 2025
-
For elders like Midar, separation from ancestral lands and graves represents not just a physical loss but a spiritual wound that may never heal, in a culture where proximity to family graves is key to a cultural sense of good fortune.—
Willem Marx,
NPR,
7 July 2025
Adjective
-
Just off the sand, antique shops and farm stands along the streets of Southampton give it a small-town feel.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
14 July 2025
-
Consider looking for these pieces at a souvenir shop on your next beach vacation or at an antique store, which will give them a special meaning.—
Tessa Cooper,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Cape Florida Light The Cape Florida Light, in Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on the tip of Key Biscayne, is the oldest lighthouse in the state.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
11 July 2025
-
Difficulty breathing Irregular heartbeat Cardiac arrest (heart attack) Adults 19 and older should not take more than 350 mg of magnesium per day to avoid side effects and reduce the chance of toxicity.10 7.—
Sarah Bence,
Verywell Health,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Director Gareth Edwards and screenwriter David Koepp give EW the inside scoop on creating these prehistoric monsters.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
30 June 2025
-
Overall, the graves have slowly revealed new clues about the prehistoric society that lived in the region thousands of years ago.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
The adult arcades see that as just the cost of doing business.—
Josh Salman,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
-
His 7-year-old son and an adult passenger were injured by by broken glass.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Jackson hoped that the exhibition would counter the misconception that medieval women were universally downtrodden drudges.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
10 July 2025
-
The handball-esque sport was initially favored by medieval monks and knights but quickly became popular among French royalty — which is why it was typically played indoors, like in palaces.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ancient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancient. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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