What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
anachronistic
Example
The use of typewriters in the modern office is anachronistic. [anachronistic: adjective]
Example
The medieval costumes in the play seemed anachronistic with the modern set design. [anachronistic: adjective]
obsolete
Example
The floppy disk is now obsolete in the age of cloud storage. [obsolete: adjective]
Example
The rotary phone is an obsolete technology that has been replaced by smartphones. [obsolete: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Obsolete is more commonly used than anachronistic in everyday language. Obsolete is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while anachronistic is less common and is often used in the context of culture, history, and art.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between anachronistic and obsolete?
Both anachronistic and obsolete are formal words that are appropriate for academic writing, but obsolete is more commonly used in technical writing and scientific contexts.
