obsolescent

adjective

ob·​so·​les·​cent ˌäb-sə-ˈle-sᵊnt How to pronounce obsolescent (audio)
: going out of use : becoming obsolete
obsolescently adverb

Examples of obsolescent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But Randolph and Hastings always planned on video streaming rendering the DVD-by-mail service obsolescent once technology advanced to the point that watching movies and TV shows through internet connections became viable. Michael Liedtke, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2023 My desktop collection of obsolescent chargers may not obviously connect me with the divine. Britt Peterson, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2023 It’s that they have been made obsolescent, by a decades-long consolidation of media empires and influence. John Semley, The New Republic, 18 Nov. 2022 The film is in part lugubrious in its longing for obsolescent objects, in its yearning for years before iPhones (with which the crisis of the film would otherwise be more easily solved). Dini Adanurani, Variety, 9 Aug. 2022 Without substantive upgrades or even replacements, these aircraft will start becoming obsolescent by the end of this decade. Paul Iddon, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2021 Buildings and spaces have been rendered obsolescent. Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2021 Vecchio said the engine's hookup to the governor system did not match up due to the obsolescent nature of the parts. Beth Mlady, cleveland, 13 Dec. 2019 Thousands of deficient and structurally obsolescent bridges are languishing across the nation. Sam Wood, Philly.com, 25 Aug. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'obsolescent.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1755, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of obsolescent was in 1755

Dictionary Entries Near obsolescent

Cite this Entry

“Obsolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/obsolescent. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

obsolescent

adjective
ob·​so·​les·​cent ˌäb-sə-ˈles-ᵊnt How to pronounce obsolescent (audio)
: going out of use : becoming obsolete
replacing obsolescent equipment

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