Synonyms: Old

Whether it's a priceless artifact, a VCR, or a haircut that's out of style, there are lots of words to describe things that are not new. For more synonym lists, explore our Say What You Mean resources.
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. ancient
    belonging to times long past
    The inside of the hotel reminded Armpit of pictures he’d seen of ancient Greek temples, with stone pillars and marble floors. Small Steps
  2. antediluvian
    of or relating to the period before the biblical flood
    And how soon before discs will be as antediluvian as videotape and all media will be on your computer desktop? Time (Oct 18, 2011)
    Diluvium means "flood" in Latin. Antediluvian literally means "before the flood," but is used to refer to ideas or items that are outdated or obsolete.
  3. antiquated
    so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
    Like the house itself, the furnishings were antiquated but in good repair. Fablehaven
  4. archaic
    so extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period
    About 2 million years ago, some of these archaic men and women left their homeland to journey through and settle vast areas of North Africa, Europe and Asia. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
  5. bygone
    well in the past; former
    Furthermore, it was happening in the present, not in bygone days of fabled deeds. Redwall
  6. decrepit
    worn and broken down by hard use
    I winced, remembering how old and decrepit my father looked. The Last Olympian
    Decrepit means not just old, but also worn down and falling apart due to age. It comes from the Latin decrepitus, meaning "very old."
  7. dilapidated
    in a state of decay, ruin, or deterioration
    Hampton High School was a dilapidated, musty old building. Hidden Figures
    Dilapidated is more often used to describe a building than a person, and that's because it comes from the Latin dilapidare, which literally means "to scatter like throwing stones."
  8. elderly
    very old or advanced in years
    I spent the summer restocking shelves and walking elderly ladies to their cars. Educated
  9. erstwhile
    belonging to some prior time
    He brushed past Root, eyes looking anywhere except at his erstwhile friend. Artemis Fowl
    Erstwhile is a nifty way of saying "former" or "from a long time ago." It comes from the Old English ærest, meaning "first" or "earliest."
  10. geriatric
    of or relating to the aged
    “Well”—he looks at me—“you’re not quite old enough for geriatric psychiatric.” It’s Kind of a Funny Story
  11. grizzled
    having gray or partially gray hair
    Two grizzled old men sat down on a bench by the stove. The Heart is a Lonely Hunter
    Grizzled is the perfect word to describe a man with a gray beard.
  12. immemorial
    long past
    Three Elf-towers of immemorial age were still to be seen on the Tower Hills beyond the western marches. The Fellowship of the Ring
  13. mature
    having reached full natural growth or development
    We were a group of about thirty “mature” women—that’s how Padre de Jesus described us, bless his heart. In the Time of the Butterflies
  14. outmoded
    no longer in fashion
    Their knowledge does not become outmoded, if they are kept informed of the latest currents of scientific thought. Gilmore, Anthony
    Mode means "fashion" in French, so outmoded means "out of fashion."
  15. passe
    out of fashion
    It's not so passe to wear clothes from last season. Seattle Times (Feb 14, 2013)
    Passé means "past" in French. In English, it's often used to describe things that are out of fashion or outdated.
  16. relic
    an antiquity that has survived from the distant past
    It belonged to Aimee as a kid, a relic from her mother’s childhood. They Both Die at the End
  17. seasoned
    aged or processed
    To be sure, there were seasoned men in the City Watch, the core of two thousand who'd gotten their gold cloaks from Robert, not Cersei. A Clash of Kings
  18. senescent
    growing old
    A senescent cell is like a classic movie monster — it exists in an ‘undead’ state. Nature (May 12, 2020)
  19. senior
    advanced in years
    We’d told mom we were heading east when we lost her at the seniors’ home. The Marrow Thieves
  20. superannuated
    too old to be useful
    So who on earth drives a muscle car – other than a superannuated Grease fan? The Guardian (Mar 10, 2013)
    Superannuated is another way of saying "old-fashioned" or "obsolete." In Latin, superannuatus described farm animals that were more than a year old.
  21. venerable
    impressive by reason of age
    As we returned by an old portal 25 in the city walls, we found a number of long-bearded and venerable men, who were "sitting in the gate" as "elders" to administer justice. Field, Henry M. (Henry Martyn)
    To venerate someone is to respect or revere them, so a venerable person is not just old but also experienced and wise.
  22. wizened
    lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness
    "Is it true, my lord?" asked the High Septon, a small, shrewd man with a wispy white beard and wizened face. A Clash of Kings
    A wizened person is wrinkled and frail. In Old English, wisnian described plants that had dried up and shriveled.
Created on Mon Mar 09 14:14:32 EDT 2020 (updated Wed Mar 03 15:59:47 EST 2021)

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