1
as in erstwhile
having been such at some previous time
the coach is a former professional baseball player
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in previous
going before another in time or order
the former manual had some errors, but the current version has its own problems
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of former
The injury suffered by former World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins has reportedly forced significant creative changes in WWE, potentially impacting the return plans for Austin Theory.
—
Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Coble is a close ally of former state legislator Jason Saine, a Lincolnton Republican who chaired the House budget committee at the time of the appropriation.
—Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2025
Their mother, Yolanda Hadid — a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum and former model — married their father, Mohamed Hadid — a real estate developer — in 1994.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Arkansas had pulled within 38-35 moments earlier on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Green to former Texas A&M tight end Jaden Platt, and converted a 2-point play with a shovel pass to tight end Rohan Jones.
—Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for former
Andrew Ravens, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
Coble is a close ally of former state legislator Jason Saine, a Lincolnton Republican who chaired the House budget committee at the time of the appropriation.
—Charlotte Observer, 22 Oct. 2025
Their mother, Yolanda Hadid — a Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum and former model — married their father, Mohamed Hadid — a real estate developer — in 1994.
—Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Arkansas had pulled within 38-35 moments earlier on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Green to former Texas A&M tight end Jaden Platt, and converted a 2-point play with a shovel pass to tight end Rohan Jones.
—Matt Jones, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for former
Recent Examples of Synonyms for former
Adjective
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Rounding out the character lineup is Frau von Luber, an erstwhile aristocrat who’s reduced to being the housekeeper in newly wealthy Olim’s castle—which used to belong to her.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
16 Oct. 2025
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The erstwhile president and his entourage got on a jet that flew them to Hmeimim, a coastal air base controlled by Russia, which had been his most critical backer in the war.—
Danny Makki,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Representatives for Bardot did not respond to PEOPLE's previous request for a comment on the actress's condition.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Scholtes rejected a second-degree murder plea deal in March 2025 that would have resulted in a sentence of 10 to 25 years, according to previous reporting by The Arizona Republic.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The residency blues In politics, fighting over where candidates live is a tale as old as time.—
Hayleigh Colombo,
IndyStar,
24 Oct. 2025
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Lutnick handed the reins of the company to his 27-year-old son, and his other son also works at Cantor.—
Melanie Hicken,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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This belies the question of whether those who are looking to deliver punishment are acting in good faith, a concern that became part of the appeals court decision in the El Salvador case and has subsequently been raised in other courtrooms as well.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Oct. 2025
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Apart from the free transfer of Canadian striker David, Juventus’ other recruits joined late window.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Former.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/former. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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