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 Upon entry to the grounds, a cast of characters decked out in medieval fashion greeted visitors, giving them a glimpse of the adventures that awaited them. — Rashad Alexander august 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026 Meanwhile, past Big Brother alums Britney Haynes, Tiffany Mitchell, Cody Calafiore and Keanu Soto will return in royal medieval garb to challenge the remaining houseguests. — Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 31 Aug. 2026 Aargau Cantonal Police said one person was killed and five others were wounded after shots were fired at the event in the town of Aarau, a scenic area known for its lush valleys, medieval castles and thermal springs. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 The wedding dress featured a high collar and medieval sleeves. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 29 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for medieval
Recent Examples of Synonyms for medieval
  1. archaic
  2. obsolete
  3. antiquated
  4. prehistoric
Adjective
  • Japan’s royal succession depends on a archaic and highly contested law, despite a wealth of women who would be eligible to rule under different circumstances.
    — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 26 Aug. 2026
  • And the rest is public perception, which has shifted against what many Americans see as a dirty, archaic form of power generation.
    — Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of archaic
Adjective
  • And although, as a survey-style telescope, Roman boasts a wider, faster view of the sky than either Hubble or JWST, McEnery emphasized that doesn’t make these more focused missions obsolete.
    — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The same practice can be revolutionary in one company, incremental in another, and obsolete in a third.
    — Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of obsolete
Adjective
  • Costco online cake ordering updates antiquated system The online cake ordering feature was first revealed to be on the way by Costco CEO Ron Vachris in the company's quarterly earnings call in December 2025.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, interviews and encounters with the slain officers’ family members also illustrate the cost and harm of a job that was formed in the early 19th century and remains antiquated and unchanged in our 21st-century world.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • Another, Undine kommt (Undine Comes), 2025, has its head in profile with a frontal eye, evoking the conventions of ancient Egyptian art and prehistoric female figurines, motifs that permeate Stötzer’s drawings, writings, and costumes.
    — Elisa R. Linn, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Beyond art, Griffin has also been a major buyer of important documents and prehistoric fossils.
    — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of prehistoric

Browse Nearby Words

medics
medieval
mediocre
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Cite this Entry

“Medieval.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/medieval. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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