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

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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

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
Meet the antique collector behind some iconic designs at Camden Yards. —Adam Thompson, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026 In the baby room, antique quilts, geometric wallpaper, and upholstered bed make for a quiet riot. —Laura Regensdorf, Architectural Digest, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
Located on the 52-acre Sunstone Estate, the palatial digs are filled with precious antiques from yesteryear, including rhinestone salvaged from châteaux in Normandy and the Loire Valley, along with roof tiles reclaimed from a 19th-century lavender factory in Provence. —Kristin Braswell, Architectural Digest, 23 Mar. 2026 In New York, the fresh ripens into the antique at formidable speed. —Justin Davidson, Curbed, 19 Mar. 2026 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
  • But this modern approach is teamed with ancient medicinal practices and a holistic, full-circle philosophy.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Passover is a major Jewish holiday commemorating the liberation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt.
    — Chad Murphy, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of ancient
Adjective
  • But the hotel offers plenty of experiences to get to know the area, from countryside tours in a vintage VW convertible to blessing ceremonies at one of Ubud’s oldest sacred sites.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Specifically, Advance Denim’s Reflex line of performance stretch fabrics utilizes VintageFX technology, a dual-core yarn engineered to produce long-wearing, comfort-stretch denim that looks and feels like a favorite pair of vintage jeans.
    — Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of vintage
Noun
  • The restaurant is lit with neon and filled with eye-catching vintage cultural artifacts, many of which are highlighted on a light-box art wall to grab your attention.
    — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
  • Scientists are tightening research protocols, adopting contamination controls from forensic science to ensure findings are real, not lab artifacts.
    — Susanne Rust Follow, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of artifact
Adjective
  • Not far from the venerable Madison Square Garden, the energy inside Life Time Sky basketball courts in midtown Monday was high.
    — Nancy Kane, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The last airframes were retired from active service in 2010, though the venerable fighter has continued to be used for training.
    — Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of venerable
Adjective
  • The modern-retro design is a throwback to Glyfada Beach’s 1960s heyday, with way more pizzazz than the folding chairs and boxy cabanas that originally lined the shore.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Sneakers in a soft pink color with a retro sole harkens back to another era without getting stuck there.
    — Alex Sales, Glamour, 5 Apr. 2026
Definition of retro
Noun
  • Their choice to select a new angel from obscurity and chronicle her rise to fame may be another way to provide a fresh coat of paint to a production that runs the risk of still feeling, to some, like a relic of the pre-body positivity movement.
    — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2026
  • And just like everyday tech users, NASA also has to upgrade its systems from time to time, and the one powering Artemis looks nothing like their relic ancestors.
    — Mack DeGeurin, Popular Science, 2 Apr. 2026
Definition of relic
Adjective
  • He was born in Oxford and raised in a village outside Salisbury, a medieval city not far from Stonehenge.
    — John Blake, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2026
  • Whitacre wrote the choral work, originally commissioned by the Los Angeles Master Chorale and recorded in 2020, using a text by his friend, poet and medieval history professor Charles Anthony Silvestri, on the faculty at Washburn University.
    — Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of medieval
Adjective
  • There were questions, as late as Friday, whether the 26,700-seat stadium would be ready to host the historic occasion.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2026
  • And with those words from Mission Control on April 2, the Artemis II astronauts were given the green light to fire up their engine, leave Earth orbit and head for their historic rendezvous with the moon.
    — Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
Definition of historic

Browse Nearby Words

antiquation
antique
antiques
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Cite this Entry

“Antique.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antique. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on antique

Nglish: Translation of antique for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about antique

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