Ancient-Antique | Commonly Confused Words
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Ancient vs. Antique

Ancient

/ˈeɪnʃənt/
Very old or belonging to a very long time ago

Examples:

Yes, this Taylor was unquestionably the greatest genius of the ancients.That strange, ancient, long-forgotten word."What if he had been alive, like the ancient teachers, eh?

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Antique

/ænˈtiːk/
Refers to an object that is very old, often valuable, and usually collected or preserved

Examples:

The antique vase was a highlight at the auction.She cherished her grandmother's antique silver locket.They restored the antique clock back to working order.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Ancient refers to something very old, usually from a period many centuries before now, and can describe a broad era or civilization, like ancient Rome or ancient Greece.
  • Antique typically describes objects that are at least 100 years old, regarded as valuable due to their age and often their beauty or rarity.
  • Think of ancient as spanning thousands of years back in history, while antique is for items you might find in a shop specializing in older, collectible pieces.
  • Use ancient when you think of historical significance and antique when you think of collectible, older objects.
  • If youre visiting a museum and see a piece from the 1800s, its antique, but if its from the Roman Empire, its ancient.
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