1
as in traditional
based on customs usually handed down from a previous generation
the classical preparation of a ham for Easter
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in authoritative
being the most accurate and apparently thorough
a writer celebrated for his classical profiles of eminent Victorians
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of classical
The state’s first orchestra, the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, was founded in 1894, one of many classical ensembles that began about 50 years after the oldest symphony in the country, the New York Philharmonic, was founded.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
Some artists have eras, experimental phases, detours, creative dalliances; Arthur Russell’s career, for all its seeming contradictions—classical minimalism and lascivious disco, Zen Buddhist mantras and winsome country pop—was a continuum.
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Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
27 June 2026
Byron used and abused all kinds of sources—classical, vernacular English, vernacular Italian—and was in turn recycled by others both during his lifetime and after his death.
—
Clare Bucknell,
The New York Review of Books,
27 June 2026
This helps quantum computers explore many possible solutions to a problem much more efficiently than classical computers.
—
Donald Keough,
Christian Science Monitor,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for classical
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
28 June 2026
Some artists have eras, experimental phases, detours, creative dalliances; Arthur Russell’s career, for all its seeming contradictions—classical minimalism and lascivious disco, Zen Buddhist mantras and winsome country pop—was a continuum.
—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
27 June 2026
Byron used and abused all kinds of sources—classical, vernacular English, vernacular Italian—and was in turn recycled by others both during his lifetime and after his death.
—
Clare Bucknell,
The New York Review of Books,
27 June 2026
This helps quantum computers explore many possible solutions to a problem much more efficiently than classical computers.
—
Donald Keough,
Christian Science Monitor,
27 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for classical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for classical
Adjective
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But the shift underscores a dramatic loss of clout by Comcast and other traditional media enterprises.
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While the crowds spent their money on an overheated summer in the Mediterranean, a quieter group is waiting patiently for September, October and November, the traditional shoulder season.
Adjective
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Plot synopsis House of the Dragon attempts to condense and dramatize the conflicting accounts presented in Fire & Blood—stitched together from testimonies and court chronicles—into a single authoritative narrative.
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They can be resolved through the application of authoritative expertise and through the organization’s current structures, procedures, and ways of doing things.
Adjective
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With no clear evidence and an unreliable witness, a community governed by customary law must preserve peace without sacrificing another child.
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Otherwise, just about every single starting lineup graphic this season has included a picture of a player, which is customary around the league.
Adjective
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Below are nine recipes featured in the special, offering everything from classic barbecue favorites to regional dishes inspired by communities across the country.
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Here, instead of the mustard that’s included in many classic potato salad recipes, sour cream, vinegar, and briny pickles team up to lend a lovely amount of tartness to cut through the richness of the potatoes, eggs, and mayo.
Adjective
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But cruise missiles are more versatile in conventional warfare.
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The majority of Georgian wine reaching export markets is made in what producers call the European style — stainless steel fermentation, conventional winemaking, easily approachable.
Cite this Entry
“Classical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/classical. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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