as in obsoleteness
the condition of no longer being used or useful; the condition of being obsolete
the obsolescence of the old technology Once a useful tool, slide rules have fallen into obsolescence.
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Recent Examples of obsolescence
To an extent, pop personas are designed for obsolescence—even the most iconic are fallible.
—
Grace Robins-Somerville, Pitchfork, 27 Jan. 2026
These projections cannot be reconciled with the need for affordable utility service (not to mention continued massive levels of gas distribution spending at risk of technological obsolescence).
—David S. Lapp, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2026
With that in mind, the model’s rapid obsolescence is all the obscener.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 18 Dec. 2025
The traditional consulting industry is facing potential obsolescence as the AI revolution starts to kick in.
—Big Think, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsolescence
Grace Robins-Somerville, Pitchfork, 27 Jan. 2026
These projections cannot be reconciled with the need for affordable utility service (not to mention continued massive levels of gas distribution spending at risk of technological obsolescence).
—David S. Lapp, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2026
With that in mind, the model’s rapid obsolescence is all the obscener.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 18 Dec. 2025
The traditional consulting industry is facing potential obsolescence as the AI revolution starts to kick in.
—Big Think, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for obsolescence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsolescence
Noun
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Villainous weirdos like Bronze Age Pervert, Curtis Yarvin, or Jack Donovan who populate the ranks of far-right intellectuals are obsessed with their own fabulism about antiquity, reminding one of the murderous gaggle of privileged college kids in Donna Tart’s 1993 campus novel The Secret History.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Feb. 2026
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But the capital holds one of the world’s largest collections of European art at the Kunsthistorisches Museum—among the most beautiful museums in the world—where pieces range from Roman antiquities to Renaissance-era armor that once belonged to Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I.—
Lane Nieset,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
By age 2, most kids know how to play pretend.—
Adithi Ramakrishnan,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
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Castle, who entered Saturday with an age of 21 years and 98 days, is the youngest player to ever put up the stat line of 40 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds, passing Oscar Robertson, per ESPN’s Mike Wright.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Obsolescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsolescence. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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