Anachronistic
hardNegative toneuh-nak-ruh-NIS-tik
adjective
Definition
Belonging to a period other than that being portrayed; out of place in time
Memory hook
ANA-CHRON-istic: AGAINST the right TIME - like seeing a smartphone in a medieval movie.
Word roots
Learning roots unlocks whole word families. Study common GRE root words.
Examples
“The medieval setting made the wristwatch anachronistic.”
“His anachronistic views seemed incompatible with modern life.”
Test yourself
Fill in the blank with the right word:
“The medieval setting made the wristwatch ______.”
Show answer
anachronistic
Synonyms
Antonyms
Categories
GRE Tip
Anachronistic is a hard-difficulty GRE word. On the GRE, you might see it paired with synonyms like "outdated" or "archaic" in Sentence Equivalence questions. Look for contrast clues (however, despite, although) that signal the opposite meaning. Words like "contemporary".
Related GRE Words
archaic
Very old or old-fashioned; from an earlier period
obsolete
No longer produced or used; out of date
antediluvian
Of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood; ridiculously old-fashioned
antiquated
Old-fashioned or outdated
hoary
Gray or white with age; old and trite
aberrant
Deviating from what is normal or expected
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