medieval

adjective

ˌmē-ˈdē-vəl How to pronounce medieval (audio)
variants also mediaeval
Definition of medievalnext
as in archaic
having passed its time of use or usefulness get rid of that medieval kerosene stove—it stinks and it's dangerous

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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 medieval Around the corner from Palma’s historic hammams in Parc de la Mar, this hotel refracts the medieval heritage of its La Calatrava location through an ultra-contemporary lens. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Perry’s novel, shortlisted for the Booker Prize (and the only debut on the list), tells the story of a young-ish curator who is trying to understand the world of a medieval monarch who had been reluctant to take the throne. — Kate McKenna, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026 The remains of medieval ruler Czar Samuel arrived in Bulgaria on Saturday, after decades of negotiations with neighboring Greece. — Costas Kantouris, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026 Through quests, combat, exploration and cooperative adventures, players can forge their own paths through the medieval fantasy world of Gielinor. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for medieval
Recent Examples of Synonyms for medieval
  1. archaic
  2. obsolete
  3. antiquated
  4. prehistoric
Adjective
  • In our era of incessant texting, the concept of these radio missives struck me as both archaic and romantic.
    — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The archaic legal restrictions restricting same-sex couples or unmarried women, for example, are acknowledged and adhered to, rather than being openly challenged or criticized.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of archaic
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Journal, James Lloyd Dusenbury recently argued that our political vocabulary, including communism and capitalism, is obsolete.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
  • That absence presented a problem for scientists trying to understand how the animals spread around the prehistoric world.
    — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • That said, prior archaeological digs have revealed similar prehistoric wooden weapons dating as far back as 400,000 years.
    — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of prehistoric

Browse Nearby Words

medics
medieval
mediocre
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Medieval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/medieval. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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