atavistic

adjective

Definition of atavisticnext
as in archaic
formal very primitive
—used to describe feelings or qualities that human beings have had from the earliest times atavistic instincts reverting to atavistic behavior

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for atavistic
  1. archaic
  2. historical
  3. old-world
  4. outmoded
  5. bygone
  6. prehistoric
  7. antiquated
  8. historic
Adjective
  • Kyiv has been struggling to boost military recruitment, stiffen its forces’ defensive earthworks, reform archaic command staffs and boost the output of Ukrainian arms factories.
    David Axe, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024
  • Amos Hochstein, the charismatic U.S. envoy leading the ceasefire talks, has largely shied away from Lebanon’s archaic internal affairs and the question of the day after.
    Firas Maksad, TIME, 26 Nov. 2024
Definition of archaic
Adjective
  • Although no country is actually named in the proceedings, the U.S., as the world’s top historical emitter, is clearly the leading target.
    Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2024
  • Karey Burke, another figure backing the project, discussed the series' historical importance by noting its groundbreaking contributions to TV comedy.
    Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 14 Dec. 2024
Definition of historical
Adjective
  • Founded in 2013 by partners Ben Runkle and butcher Bryan Butler, Salt & Time's East Seventh Street location spearheaded a movement towards old-world methods of meat sourcing, butchering, and aging.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Dec. 2024
  • The Del Coronado’s ultimate claim to Hollywood fame, however, remains its role in Some Like It Hot, in which the hotel’s old-world aesthetic provided Wilder with a cost-efficient time warp to the 1920s.
    Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Dec. 2024
Definition of old-world
Adjective
  • More than half of federal prison facilities were built before 1991 and many are becoming outmoded or obsolete, the agency said.
    Michael R. Sisak and Michael Balsamo, Los Angeles Times, 5 Dec. 2024
  • Benioff previously compared Microsoft’s Copilot to the outmoded paperclip tool, Clippy.
    Chloe Berger, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024
Definition of outmoded
Adjective
  • Despite roles in such major franchises as Harry Potter, MCU and most recently, Star Wars, Jude Law is nostalgic for a bygone era of Hollywood.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 29 Nov. 2024
  • The video, taken in Terminal A near the food court, features MCO's signature green carpet adorned with a floral pattern, large pots of lush greenery and wooden benches that feel straight out of a bygone era.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024
Definition of bygone
Adjective
  • Today, the caverns hold evidence of both the Maya and the people who inhabited the region before them, as well as the fossils of prehistoric megafauna.
    Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Dec. 2024
  • These are prehistoric mammal relatives that lived during the Permian period (around 299-252 million years ago) of Earth's history.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Definition of prehistoric
Adjective
  • Whitaker has dealt with challenges including a surge in close calls between planes, a shortage of air traffic controllers and antiquated equipment.
    David Koenig, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Anyone who has filled out their tax return applied for a driver’s license, or booked a doctor’s appointment knows how frustratingly antiquated government services can feel.
    Greg Orme, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • This is the story of how Eric Jorgenson and the team at Scribe took a flatlining company and led it through a historic rebirth to recover its lost potential, restore its core values, and preserve the jobs of dozens of employees.
    Kyle J. Russell, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
  • Through her connection to Nashville, Wilson was invited to perform on the PBS special Patsy Cline: Walkin’ After Midnight featuring a variety of artists (Wynonna, Pat Benatar, Ashley McBryde, Kristin Chenoweth, and others) performing Patsy Cline songs at the historic Ryman Auditorium.
    Pam Windsor, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of historic
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.

Thesaurus Entries Near atavistic

atavisms

atavistic

at close quarters

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Cite this Entry

“Atavistic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/atavistic. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

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