ANTIQUE Synonyms: 137 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

antique 1 of 2

adjective

(ˌ)an-ˈtēk

Definition of antique

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

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

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

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

Noyce, of Fairchild, went to a photography store and found a few serviceable lenses in a crate of antique movie cameras. — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 My grandfather reliably spoke warmly of his years in service and antique buddies from his army years traveled from across the country to come to a grand party thrown for my grandparents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary in 1991. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026

Noun

Sang-woo’s grandfather had been a businessman and a police officer under the Japanese colonial government, before the Second World War; books and antiques from that period line every surface. — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Republic Goods and Buffalo Exchange both offer consignment or trade-ins, and Main Street Mercantile has antiques and unique finds in addition to clothing. — Mackenzie Jervis, Travel + Leisure, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for antique

Recent Examples of Synonyms for antique

Adjective

Even the climbing-vine wallpaper is yellowed, as if gradually discolored by the cigarettes of a thousand ancient Sundays.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026
Madrid sits on an ancient migration route that has always been part of a vast grid of farming paths covering the Iberian Peninsula.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of ancient

Adjective

Their brothers all wore vintage floral brooches the couple collected for the wedding day.

— Shelby Wax, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
The couple recently revamped their living room and kitchen, adding details like crown moldings, vintage lighting and custom banquette seating, which cost approximately $12,000.

— Sophie Caldwell,Valentina Duarte, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of vintage

Noun

Ship models, ancient navigation instruments, maps, and shipwreck artifacts illustrate the skills and dangers involved in these journeys.

— Melissa Hancock, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
People have the ability to share specific Muse artifacts, which creates a page that can be accessed by those with the link.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of artifact

Adjective

Executive produced by Flanagan and King, Carrie is the second Prime Video series based on MGM/UA IP to launch after Amazon MGM Studios had made exploiting the venerable studio’s library a priority following the 2022 acquisition.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2026
There’s Haroon Mirza’s Stone Circle, commissioned by Ballroom Marfa, another venerable local institution.

— Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of venerable

Adjective

The Mister Mort x Tip Top Shoes x Mephisto Match takes inspiration from retro hiking boots, decking out the low-top walking sneaker in materials often found on mountaineering shoes.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026
The Atlanta Falcons received backlash — and some jokes — after revealing a retro team symbol that some say resembles Nazi imagery.

— Josephine Murphy, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of retro

Noun

New York — Down a dim, crooked hallway inside the Jay Street Lofts, a hulking brick relic of Brooklyn’s industrial past, Naomi Mishkin is conducting a radical fashion experiment.

— Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Few would bother to think about the two-state solution, viewing the idea as a relic from the overly optimistic 1990s.

— Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of relic

Adjective

The territories at various times have been part of the Russian and Ottoman empires, medieval Kievan Rus’ and earlier civilizations.

— Catherine Belton, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
The time period is vaguely medieval and the accents British, save for Skarsgård, who speaks in a flat, neutral exhale, the sound of breeze riffling through straw.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of medieval

Adjective

Police on Tuesday arrested a suspect in the arson attack that charred the historic city hall in Limoges, in central France, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said, adding that the person may not have acted alone.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
On Saturday alone, at least 2,400 people were arrested after rioters in cities across France clashed with police, set cars on fire, stormed public buildings, looted stores and engulfed a historic city hall in flames.

— ABC News, ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of historic

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Antique.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antique. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of antique

adjective

noun

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Synonyms of antique

adjective

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to antique

Tulip/Turban, Cloak/Clock, & 8...

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on antique

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Word of the Day

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Popular in Grammar & Usage

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Popular in Wordplay

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Popular

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The Longest Long Words List

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Games & Quizzes