obsolescence

Definition of obsolescencenext
as in obsoleteness
the condition of no longer being used or useful; the condition of being obsolete the obsolescence of the old technology Once a useful tool, slide rules have fallen into obsolescence.

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of obsolescence The film industry that includes Chalamet is doing little more than confirming and solidifying its own obsolescence. Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 9 Mar. 2026 That feeling of obsolescence comes to a head when a half-dozen former students lodge complaints of inappropriate behavior against John. Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 5 Mar. 2026 All-American obsolescence To love Pluto is to also love Flagstaff – a charming town of old brick buildings and cozy gathering spaces, full of college kids and old hippies, surrounded by mountain peaks and outdoor recreation. David Allan, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026 Works engaging centuries-deep material practices operate under different temporal physics than contemporary art calibrated to obsolescence. Anel Rakhimzhanova, Artforum, 1 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for obsolescence
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obsolescence
Noun
  • The setting is green and damp, a little chilly and full of antiquities that toe the line between charming and creepy.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026
  • For Lucretius, reflections on the surface of water or a mirror—in antiquity, made of metal, not unlike the surface of a daguerreotype—are a model for understanding the atomistic universe and the nature of vision.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Has the state of the world, your age, anything sort of changed your motivation toward the game?
    Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
  • Positive Results Center empowers healing journeys, helping people of all ages discover their dreams and potential.
    Staff Photographer, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Obsolescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obsolescence. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on obsolescence

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster