The Opposite(Antonym) of “youngest”
The antonyms of youngest are oldest and eldest. These words describe the opposite ends of a chronological spectrum, with youngest referring to the most recent or newly born and oldest or eldest referring to the earliest or firstborn.
Definitions and Examples of oldest, eldest
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
Having lived or existed for the longest time; first in order of birth.
Example
My grandmother is the oldest member of our family, having lived for over ninety years.
First in order of birth among siblings or offspring.
Example
As the eldest child, she felt responsible for taking care of her younger siblings.
Key Differences: oldest vs eldest
- 1Oldest refers to the person or thing that has existed or lived for the longest time, while eldest specifically refers to the firstborn among siblings or offspring.
- 2Both oldest and eldest are relational antonyms, meaning they describe a relationship between two or more things, while youngest is a gradable antonym that describes a position on a chronological spectrum.
Effective Usage of oldest, eldest
- 1Family Relations: Use oldest and eldest to describe birth order among siblings or family members.
- 2Historical Events: Use oldest to describe the earliest known events or artifacts in history.
- 3Chronological Order: Use youngest and oldest to describe the beginning and end of a timeline or sequence of events.
Remember this!
The antonyms of youngest are oldest and eldest. While oldest refers to the person or thing that has existed or lived for the longest time, eldest specifically refers to the firstborn among siblings or offspring. Use these words to describe family relations, historical events, and chronological order.
