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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Many across the political spectrum, including USDA insiders, acknowledge that the Farm Service Agency systems are complex and archaic and that some of its systems are in need of reform.—
Jenna McLaughlin,
NPR,
10 July 2025 -
The grease, which then floated to the surface of the water, could be skimmed off the top and eaten — providing a calorie-dense food source for the archaic people.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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Kartal, who was born in 2001, was wearing a boxy outfit inspired by the nineties, one of her favorite historical periods.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
12 July 2025
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Nearly every episode of this podcast from the Washington Post is under 10 minutes, delivering a digestible overview of an obscure or long-forgotten historical episode.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes.com,
12 July 2025
Adjective
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Opened in September 2022, Casa Cipriani Milano sees the group return to its roots, embodying the very best of classic Milanese hospitality and design, while reconciling it with the old-world feel of an English gentleman’s club.—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
10 July 2025
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Pop-up TVs were installed in the salon and the owner’s suite so that the tech wouldn’t detract from the old-world feel.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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Slow and costly interconnection processes and outmoded grid planning can prevent meaningful progress.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
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What all of this costs the networks and cable news outlets is surely sizable; what’s produced is beholden to the many limitations or traditions of TV news: outmoded news segment formats, restrictive standards.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
16 June 2025
Adjective
-
The recipe comes from a bygone department store called Miller & Rhoads, which was founded in Richmond, Virginia, in 1883.—
Stephanie Ganz,
Southern Living,
7 July 2025
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Penned by Taka Yacht Design, the yacht showcases classic lines from bow to stern that evoke a bygone era of sailing.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
7 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
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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
Adjective
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The Fed said the renovation will remove asbestos and lead contamination as well as replace antiquated electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and fire-safety systems.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 July 2025
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Bondi said the jail's antiquated security cameras cut off for one minute every night.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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And, in contrast, the percentage holding a positive view of immigration has soared to a historic high.—
Brendan Rascius
July 11,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
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And a historic aristocratic club turned chic boutique hotel is the place to stay.—
Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Atavistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavistic. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
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