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

The museum’s four galleries included rare and antique telephones dating to 1876, including some designed by Alexander Graham Bell. — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Trains+Trucks+Tractors = Wheels & Rails II See classic cars, hot rods, antique cars, antique tractors, semi and box trucks and more at this open class show with the Southeastern Railway Museum’s train cars as a backdrop. — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Noun

Paintings, artwork, sculptures, stamps, statuary, other collector’s pieces (such as pieces of archaeology), as well as antiques older than 100 years but not over 250 years old are listed, as are suitcases, trunks, vanities and other types of bags. — Zachary Folk, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Detectives have learned that the shooting suspect and the owner of the antiques store were living in a trailer behind the store, police said. — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for antique

Recent Examples of Synonyms for antique

Adjective

After becoming a daily fixture in the 1990s, blackouts have worsened since 2024, when Cuba’s ancient power grid began to collapse and Soviet-era electrical stations began failing more frequently.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026
Its towering basalt cliffs formed as ancient volcanic rock cooled and fractured.

— Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of ancient

Adjective

Kofi Kingston performed a vintage elimination save spot with help from Prince Nana as the two wheelbarrowed back into the ring.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Birmingham is popular with motorcycle and auto racing fans because of the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, which boasts the largest collection of vintage motorcycles and Lotus race cars.

— Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of vintage

Noun

Reputation systems also struggle when an artifact is new, short-lived or slightly different from anything seen before.

— Ken Ammon, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2026
The artifact's stop at West Point comes nearly 25 years after the attacks sent a generation of American service members to Afghanistan, Iraq and other theaters during the war on terror.

— Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of artifact

Adjective

Busy schedules at venues of every size, particularly the venerable clubs and halls that help give Chicago its local flavor.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
The husband-wife duo and their restaurant group that includes the likes of downtown Orlando’s Reyes Mezcaleria and Seito Sushi in Baldwin Park have been twice honored by the venerable James Beard Foundation.

— Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of venerable

Adjective

Accented by aged brass and deep brown marble, the lamp easily flits between retro and moodier contemporary styles.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026
The fall 2026 campaign, shot by photographer Matt Easton, depicts Hilton next to stacks of retro TV sets broadcasting Not-Karl wearing a dark suit, tie and white shirt with a high collar.

— Miles Socha, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of retro

Noun

The Paper Receipts Converting Association, a trade group of US manufacturers, pushes back against anti-receipt legislation and advocates for paper receipts as a consumer right, not a relic.

— HubSpot, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
In April, a former server at Long Island Bar bought the neighborhood relic Sam’s Restaurant from Lou Migliaccio, whose relatives opened it in 1930.

— Rachel Corbett, Curbed, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of relic

Adjective

Brede Hovland of Norway’s Einar Film, who stepped in for producer Guri Neby on the panel, said the Norwegian shoot wrapped at the end of May after six-to-seven weeks in Oslo, with production now in Prague for the medieval and fantasy material.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026
Start your day with a lakeside walk, then visit Meersburg Castle, the town’s medieval fortress, before heading to the New Castle (Neues Schloss), a Baroque palace perched above the lake, for panoramic views.

— Sofia Markovich, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of medieval

Adjective

The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in the Hague on Monday ruled in Pakistan's favor over the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, saying the historic pact remains fully binding and that India had no valid grounds for ending or suspending it.

— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
This design is directly inspired by a historic Leroy tact watch created in 1810, today preserved at the Patek Philippe Museum.

— Carol Besler, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of historic

Browse Nearby Words

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“Antique.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/antique. Accessed 5 Sep. 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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