most ancient

ADJECTIVE

old, often very old

Synonyms

STRONGEST

age-old antique archaic hoary old-fashioned timeworn venerable

STRONG

aged antediluvian bygone elderly fossil oldie relic remote

WEAK

antiquated back number been around creaky early few miles on lot of mileage moth-eaten obsolete old goat older out-of-date outmoded primal primeval primordial rusty superannuated worse for wear

Antonyms

STRONGEST

current fresh modern new

STRONG

young

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Severe flooding has seen a library temporarily moved to a building that is considered a gateway to one of the most ancient sites in Ulster.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

The book convincingly presents the indigenous case for animism—that nature is fully alive at all levels, and that stones are our most ancient and reliable communicators.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

While most ancient oral microbiomes are retrieved from fossilised plaque, this study targeted the tooth directly.

From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2024

Olfaction is the most ancient of animal senses, said Catherine Price, a behavioral ecologist at the University of Sydney in Australia.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 1, 2024

The most ancient of the chiefs who regaled the gathered elders with ancient tales was Zwelibhangile Joyi, a son from the Great House of King Ngubengcuka.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela