1
as in venerable
dating or surviving from the distant past
Rome's ancient ruins remain carefully preserved even in the midst of the bustle of the modern city
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in older
being of advanced years and especially past middle age
used to think that age 40 was ancient until I turned 40 myself
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3
as in primitive
relating to or occurring near the beginning of a process, series, or time period
the ancient Inca built a vast network of roads
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in elder
a person of advanced years
ancients in the tribe are accorded great respect and valued for their wisdom
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ancient
Time, 26 Mar. 2025
Gibson is also expected to shoot the sequel in other ancient Southern Italian rural locations, including Ginosa, Gravina Laterza and Altamura.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 26 Mar. 2025
Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2025
No full moons, no silver bullets, no ancients curses and the like, just a title card at the beginning of the film stating that wolf man sightings have been a phenomenon since indigenious peoples ruled the Americas.
—Scott Phillips, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ancient
Adjective
Advertisement An ancient Buddhist temple, houses, factories and vehicles were among the structures destroyed in the wildfires that have burned 43,330 acres, the government’s emergency response center said.
—Noun
Read More: These 5 Ancient Civilizations Treasured Their Pets
Coping with Critters
The discovery of archeological remains has helped scientists better understand how ancients coped with bothersome critters.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for ancient
Adjective
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The 27 Project Kuiper satellites will comprise the heaviest payload that the venerable Atlas V has ever flown, according to Amazon.—
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Note: If those prices are too steep, Arlington’s venerable Bigotes Restaurant is 1½ miles south off Stadium Drive.—
Adjective
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Houde said these mammoth animals are a primitive group of proboscideans ('elephantoids') from which modern elephants evolved.—
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Many are primitive and remote, and don’t have restrooms or water.—
Noun
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There’s a lot going on in your 40s: raising a family, paying a mortgage, shuttling kids to and from activities, caring for elders—all while working.—
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Wilmore, an elder in his Baptist church, is excited to resume face-to-face ministry and enjoy the scent of fresh-cut grass.—
Adjective
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One photo shows an antique dealer named Eddie Dodson, who had a store on Melrose Avenue.—
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The event featured an antique Jeepney — a traditional open-air vehicle used in the Philippines — and ube shakes.—
Adjective
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The other part of him, the innie, is for all intents and purposes 2 1/2 years old.—
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In the Pig universe, which has now been running for two decades, George remains two years old and Peppa two years older.—
Adjective
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The bear's remains provide a glimpse into the region's prehistoric fauna and climatic conditions.—
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These megafauna ate prehistoric avocados whole, spreading the pits—and, as a consequence, the fruits—across the region.—
Noun
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The rear seats are a bit cramped but still viable for adults (unlike the 500e) and there’s a decent amount of luggage space in the rear.—
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Now preserved for future generations as part of the state park system, this retro roadside attraction costs just $13 for adults and $8 for children to enter and enjoy, a far cry from the cost of a ticket to Disney.—
Adjective
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Not medieval Spain, but as recently as the 1980s in the Soviet Union.—
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Sonja Drimmer is an associate professor of medieval art and architecture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and the author of The Art of Allusion: Illuminators and the Making of English Literature, 1403–1476 (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2018). NOTES 1.—
Cite this Entry
“Ancient.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ancient. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.
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