as in ancient
dating or surviving from the distant past
hoary oak trees with dripping moss and gnarled limbs shaded us from the sun
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Recent Examples of hoary
Forget that hoary old prophecy about the kid who'll bring balance to the Force.
—
Richard Edwards, Space.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Sometimes a good story or excellent execution can overcome hoary material.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 6 Apr. 2025
His performance in Top Gun proves the hoary old thespian adage that there are no small parts, just actors who aren’t as good as Val Kilmer.
—John Devore, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2025
Every year, the show’s producers try to think of new ways to celebrate movies, but the hoariest methods are usually best.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hoary
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hoary
Adjective
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On a cold winter afternoon, António and Jota return from the front with their friends, looking for an ancient Roman thermal bath.—
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Over time, Thompson and her colleagues have unearthed more burials, ancient human DNA and tiny human bone fragments.—
Adjective
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Roughly one hundred Uffizi staffers staged a demonstration in the courtyard of the venerable Florence institution on January 4, protesting an effective layoff of the museum’s casual workers spurred by a change in service managers.—
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Lorch died in 2012, but his actions, and how much, if any, responsibility the venerable institution should take for them, will be at issue in the case.—
Adjective
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Brake gently as needed - Brake normally if the vehicle has anti-lock brakes and pump brakes gently if in an older vehicle.—
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Come late January or early February, Denver could be down its defensive coordinator, a whiz-kid offensive mind, and a slightly older whiz-kid defensive mind.—
Adjective
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The historic downtown is full of antique mining relics and quirky businesses.—
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Instead, they will be curated over time with vintage and antique moments that tell a story.—
Adjective
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The quaint city suffered very little damage during World War II, meaning its distinctly medieval structures have managed to remain intact over the years.—
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Take the quiz here … LEGENDARY LISTING – Jaw-dropping medieval castle with 100 rooms hits market with nearly 1,000 years of history.—
Cite this Entry
“Hoary.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hoary. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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