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

Relevance

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
  • It’s all designed to try to persuade visitors that the biblical story was literally true — that an ancient Noah really could have built such a sophisticated ship.
    — Peter Smith, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2025
  • Scientists have discovered a huge spike in radiocarbon levels 14,300 years ago by analyzing ancient tree-rings.
    — David Bressan, Forbes.com, 25 May 2025
Definition of ancient
Adjective
  • Sentimental family keepsakes such as a pair of baby shoes also make for a lovely display along with a framed photograph or a stack of vintage children's books.
    — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 May 2025
  • Back in March, the actress joined Squibb to present at the 2025 Academy Awards, wearing vintage Mugler with De Beers jewels.
    — Julia Teti, Footwear News, 20 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
  • 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
Definition of venerable
Adjective
  • Over time, the visible Air units in retro versions of the shoe grew increasingly smaller, but this year’s version has been tweaked to (almost) match the look and feel of the originals.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 24 May 2025
  • Polaroid cameras on the highest end of the spectrum are usually refurbished retro instant cameras.
    — Alvina Wang, Mercury News, 20 May 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
  • Visit the Picasso Museum Five conjoined medieval palaces with Catalan Gothic architecture house the Picasso Museum in the district El Born.
    — Jennifer Fernández Solano, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
  • Delap’s cannon shoulders struck fear into a baffled division, like a medieval army who looked across the battlefield and realised that the opposing forces had technology far beyond theirs.
    — Nick Miller, New York Times, 22 May 2025
Definition of medieval
Adjective
  • Historic Haven New Haven, home to Yale University, offers a blend of historic charm and progressive energy.
    — Joshua Alston, USA Today, 24 May 2025
  • After a historic collapse in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals to the Indiana Pacers, the Knicks let Game 2 slip through their fingers, in a 114-109 loss.
    — Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2025
Definition of historic

Browse Nearby Words

antiquation
antique
antiques
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Antique.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antique. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on antique

Nglish: Translation of antique for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about antique

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Using Bullet Points ( • )

'Bring' vs. 'Take'

Is it 'used to' or 'use to'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language

10 Hella Good U.S. Regionalisms

The Clinical History of 'Moron,' 'Idiot,' and 'Imbecile'

And So It Begins: 9 Words for Beginnings
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Flower Etymologies For Your Spring Garden

How 'Namaste' Entered The English Language
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
couple-laugh-cafe
Quiz: Foreign Phrases You Should Know Check out your bona fides and avoid any faux pas.
See All