variants
also anachronic
as in obsolete
belonging to an earlier time period
The fashions that were all the rage just five years ago seem like anachronistic leftovers today.
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Recent Examples of anachronistic
The show has reveled in its intentionally anachronistic music, casting, and costume choices.
—
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2026
But creator Chris Van Dusen, showrunner Jess Brownell, and their Shondaland team have consistently found ways to make their show’s anachronistic Regency setting more reflective of the world contemporary fans live in.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Google endured several embarrassing product debuts, when its Bard chatbot and then its successor Gemini models got facts wrong, recommended glue as a pizza topping, and generated images of historically anachronistic Black Nazis.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
Like these forerunners, the pleasures of Knight’s A Thousand Blows, which premiered all six episodes of its second season on Hulu Friday, lies in looking back on that thin sliver of time, about 15 years ago, when anachronistic old-timey crime was in vogue.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
While Lady Jane Grey's real historical reign was cut short by a wrongful execution, Emily Bader's anachronistic character skirts around the guillotine but is still roped into marrying Lord Guildford Dudley (Edward Bluemel) — an Ethian who transforms into a horse — and being crowned queen overnight.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Composer Daniel Lopatin spins an electronic score that hews more hedonistic Reagan-era ’80s than period-specific 1950s, with various songs of these two eras peppered throughout — this anachronistic but era-spanning soundtrack is perfectly attuned to the film’s themes.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
That was the barometer with me and Jen—timeless, timeless, timeless; no anachronistic faces.
—Jordan Hoffman, Vanity Fair, 25 Dec. 2025
The killer’s obsession with achieving glory isn’t the only element that feels startlingly modern, with anachronistic touches lending the series an unusual brio.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 2 Feb. 2026
But creator Chris Van Dusen, showrunner Jess Brownell, and their Shondaland team have consistently found ways to make their show’s anachronistic Regency setting more reflective of the world contemporary fans live in.
—Judy Berman, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Google endured several embarrassing product debuts, when its Bard chatbot and then its successor Gemini models got facts wrong, recommended glue as a pizza topping, and generated images of historically anachronistic Black Nazis.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2026
Like these forerunners, the pleasures of Knight’s A Thousand Blows, which premiered all six episodes of its second season on Hulu Friday, lies in looking back on that thin sliver of time, about 15 years ago, when anachronistic old-timey crime was in vogue.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026
While Lady Jane Grey's real historical reign was cut short by a wrongful execution, Emily Bader's anachronistic character skirts around the guillotine but is still roped into marrying Lord Guildford Dudley (Edward Bluemel) — an Ethian who transforms into a horse — and being crowned queen overnight.
—James Mercadante, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Jan. 2026
Composer Daniel Lopatin spins an electronic score that hews more hedonistic Reagan-era ’80s than period-specific 1950s, with various songs of these two eras peppered throughout — this anachronistic but era-spanning soundtrack is perfectly attuned to the film’s themes.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
That was the barometer with me and Jen—timeless, timeless, timeless; no anachronistic faces.
—Jordan Hoffman, Vanity Fair, 25 Dec. 2025
The killer’s obsession with achieving glory isn’t the only element that feels startlingly modern, with anachronistic touches lending the series an unusual brio.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for anachronistic
Adjective
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Conversely, Hickey brushed off the recent software stock rout that's been driven by investor fear that AI will suddenly make many software providers obsolete.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2026
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So the question of which ride is superior may soon be obsolete as more robotaxis take to the streets and more Austinites get a glimpse of a world without human drivers.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Wilson said the immediacy of her script connects with how Hedda isn’t simply an antiquated character from the past but someone women today can identify with.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
-
The theatrical window is not an antiquated tradition.—
Joseph M. Singer,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The image that usually beckons of a vintage store is one that is fusty, cramped and dimly lit, filled with garments organized without design or backstory.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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On one side, classic straight-leg fits emerged as the default, refreshed in pale blue, mid-blue, and softly worn vintage washes.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Athletes from seven different countries, including Japan, rank among the top 10 in the current women’s World Cup standings compared to just the traditional four for men.—
Dana ONeil,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Unlike traditional ransomware groups, ShinyHunters no longer focuses on encrypting systems.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Picture real-time views of what individual players see from their perspective on the field or probability overlays showing the likelihood of different play outcomes based on formation, down, distance, and historical data.—
Jason Corso,
Fortune,
8 Feb. 2026
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Responsiveness requires historical literacy, strategic coherence, clarity of purpose, and a public that understands the stakes.—
Carol L. Harris,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The neighborhood/area Nestled along Pinney's Beach, the property sits just minutes from museums, plantation homes, and historic churches dating to the 1600s.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Feb. 2026
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Missouri - Travelers can cross the historic Chain of Rocks bridge over the Mississippi River and explore underground cages.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Anachronistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anachronistic. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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