old-school

adjective

ˈōl(d)-ˌskül How to pronounce old-school (audio)
Definition of old-schoolnext
1
as in vintage
pleasantly reminiscent of an earlier time an old-school romantic comedy in which the two leads don't jump into bed at the first opportunity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in traditional
tending to favor established ideas, conditions, or institutions an old-school gentleman who opened doors and pulled out chairs for women

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 old-school In a rare lead role, one that gives him a frankly magnificent coat, Turturro adds to his late-career renaissance as an old-school pickpocket who runs afoul of a Gen-Z mobster. — Nate Jones, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026 Away from the set, Affleck has a few interests that are decidedly more old-school. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2026 Simpson has no homers in 1,053 career plate appearances in the majors and is a prototypical, old-school leadoff hitter. — ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026 The bidding is likely to attract a host of both old-school and new-tech media companies, all eager to secure the massive crowds that advertisers continue to covet. — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for old-school
Recent Examples of Synonyms for old-school
  1. vintage
  2. traditional
  3. retro
  4. conservative
  5. antique
  6. orthodox
  7. antiquated
  8. old-time
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
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
  • 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
Adjective
  • Davis’s letter follows a separate ethics complaint filed by a conservative watchdog group to the Senate Select Committee on Ethics over Slotkin’s University of Chicago remarks, first reported by the Washington Examiner on Tuesday.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative group of state legislators and private-sector members, cast it as part of a growing bipartisan movement and urged the remaining states to follow.
    — Lara Murray-Sterzel, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of conservative
Adjective
  • Antique and Vintage Furniture At one point, antique wooden furniture dominated homes.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The space is adorned with black Zimbabwean granite, a burning fireplace, and antique silk carpets from Uzbekistan.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of antique
Adjective
  • Garcia’s comes from standing up straight in his orthodox stance but is driven by his back leg, which propels him forward.
    — Chris McKenna, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • King’s indifference to orthodox formats enables formal mischief.
    — Laura Preston, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of orthodox
Adjective
  • According to firefighters, the department’s flood response was also limited by an antiquated dispatch system.
    — Abe Streep, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Plaintiffs challenging the prohibition on home distilling claim the 1868 law is an antiquated relic of Reconstruction-era politics.
    — Michael Kunzelman, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • Maine didn’t have the typical music scenes of the Midwest or West Coast and his old-time hobby of busking felt moot with everyone cooped up inside their homes.
    — Selena Fragassi, SPIN, 19 Oct. 2026
  • The docent, red glasses in hand, slumps against the old-time cannon.
    — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of old-time

Browse Nearby Words

olds
old-school
oldster
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Cite this Entry

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

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