classical

adjective

ˈkla-si-kəl How to pronounce classical (audio)
Definition of classicalnext
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

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 classical Many classical Christian schools go a step further in their focus on reclaiming and promoting Western Christian culture. — ABC News, 21 Oct. 2026 As the daughter of two classical singers, she was used to hanging around backstage and going along with the rhythm of theatrical days. — Sarah Crompton, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026 Today, the 31-year-old is sneakily skilled in ways beyond classical picking or noisy shredding. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026 Sam Jackson, controller of BBC Radio 3 and BBC Proms, will oversee audio and video commissioning for classical music. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for classical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for classical
  1. traditional
  2. authoritative
  3. customary
  4. classic
  5. conventional
Adjective
  • Earlier this month, Mastercard and BVNK launched Global Money Platform, designed to help banks, fintechs and businesses manage payments involving traditional currencies and stablecoins through a single application programming interface.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2026
  • But Rodrigues believes technology can augment traditional teaching methods by examining how a student solves an algebra problem or structures a piece of writing and identifying learning gaps.
    — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of traditional
Adjective
  • Without an authoritative accounting, Eisenkot argues, the country cannot fully reckon with the catastrophe.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Our colleague Helen Branswell was a renowned infectious disease reporter who earned the respect and admiration of experts and public health officials with her authoritative, prescient reporting on the flu, polio, Ebola and the Covid-19 pandemic.
    — Elaine Chen, STAT, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of authoritative
Adjective
  • The cutback came soon after the country was hit by dozens of ballistic missiles, which took out power for 600,000 people in Kyiv, without America’s customary advance warnings.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Wallace plays Mia, a spoiled heiress who is sent by her grandfather to Palermo, Sicily, without money or her customary luxuries, to work as a real estate agent in the family business.
    — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of customary
Adjective
  • The collection follows a very classic autumnal color palette, with speckles of burgundy, brown, khaki, and deep greens.
    — Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Rooms Standard rooms are classic in look and feel with dark wood furniture and neutral fabrics, yet appointed with modern embellishments such as universal outlets and bedside light controls.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of classic
Adjective
  • Compared to conventional microscopes, the Airscope offers a complete upgrade in neural imaging.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Grid current passes through silicon carbide transistors that switch at high frequency before sending it through a small conventional transformer, preserving the essential electrical isolation between the grid and everything downstream.
    — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of conventional

Browse Nearby Words

classic
classical
classicism
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Cite this Entry

“Classical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/classical. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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