ANACHRONISTIC Synonyms: 86 Similar and Opposite Words

anachronistic

adjective

variants also anachronic

Definition of anachronistic

as in obsolete

belonging to an earlier time period The fashions that were all the rage just five years ago seem like anachronistic leftovers today.

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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 anachronistic John Wayne and Gary Cooper, like Ken-san, often played anachronistic loners from a disappearing Arcadia that was being destroyed by hard-nosed modernizers—greedy bankers, railway owners, big-city politicians. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026 Crowds in an anachronistic fashion mashup of 1950s fedoras, 1940s newsboy caps, and 1960s pillbox hats celebrate some undefined New Year’s Eve of yore. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026 Launching a linear channel may feel anachronistic and comes at a time when the BBC is set to close at least one but under maverick content chief Ben Frow, 5 has leaned in to linear. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026 Their brand names have some modest residual value but their original purpose—organizing content into a schedule—is entirely anachronistic today. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 23 Sep. 2026 Lioness has always been a mess of contradictory political signifiers and anachronistic pop-cultural touchpoints, amounting to a 20th-century-style espionage adventure wrapped in 21st-century military-industrial dystopia. — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 20 Sep. 2026 Even under a simple two-person dialogue, Johnnie Burn’s sound design and Daniel Pemberton’s score are jointly heavy on churning, faintly industrial noise, supplemented by suitably anachronistic rock soundtrack cuts. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026 Because the film is so anachronistic on a deep level, its surface anachronisms start to merit attention. — Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026 What happened to the colonists remains unknown, but archaeological finds—including otherwise anachronistic English artifacts on Hatteras Island—give some support to White’s theory that at least some of the colonists relocated willingly. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for anachronistic

Adjective

In the Wall Street Journal, James Lloyd Dusenbury recently argued that our political vocabulary, including communism and capitalism, is obsolete.

— Jason Thurlkill, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
While most Apple products stop receiving repairs or replacement parts after being added to the obsolete list, MacBooks may still receive battery replacements for up to 10 years after Apple stops selling them — if batteries are still available.

— Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of obsolete

Adjective

The antiquated federal code lacks any guidance for building these homes to withstand earthquakes, wildfires or tornadoes.

— Arindam Chowdhury, The Conversation, 9 Oct. 2026
Adopting techniques from classic-Hollywood style, cinematographers dusted off antiquated equipment, using tungsten bulbs instead of LEDs to create the low-key contrasts typical of the genre.

— Harmon Siegel, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of antiquated

Adjective

Upon landing in Samarkand on Sunday night, Rubio was warmly embraced by Uzbekistan’s foreign minister, Bakhtiyor Saidov, while two women clad in elaborate gold-and-black traditional dresses presented him with a bouquet.

— Reuters, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2026
In all these areas, the traditional aid system is falling short.

— David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of traditional

Adjective

The row reached the competition jury’s press conference the day after the opening ceremony, where a reporter raised the question of historical fact and creative freedom.

— Ophélie Surcouf, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
Furthermore, the use of economic arguments to justify oppression has disturbing historical precedent.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of historical

Adjective

Both those historic actions happened as part of the Biden administration's focus on anti-money laundering and efforts to promote compliance with the then-emerging virtual currency industry.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Yeager's historic flight followed a series of unpowered glide tests, incuding three by Yeager himself in August of 1947, followed by ever faster subsonic powered flights.

— Tariq Malik, Space.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of historic

Browse Nearby Words

anachronism

anachronistic

anachronous

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“Anachronistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/anachronistic. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of anachronistic

adjective

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