Relic

/ˈɹɛlɪk/

Synonyms for "relic" (247 found)

Ranked by relevance and common usage.

Closest matches (50)

Noun(12 words)
age oldancient artifactancient artifactsantiquesarerearmletsartefactartefactsartifactartifactsbroochescultural artifact
Adjective(8 words)
ancient civilization artifactsantique objectarchaeological artifactarchaeological discoveriesauthentic artifactbygoneceremonial regaliacultural heritage artifact

Strong matches (74)

Adjective(11 words)
cultural remnantdead objectdead thinggothic wato artifacthistoric objecthistorical american itemhistorical artifacthistorical curiosityholyholy relicmayan artifacts
Noun(25 words)
cultural resourcecuriodaguerreotypesdevotional objectdig updukaselderemberfetichfindsfossil remnantfossilsgeology education termgeology termheirloomsheritage assethistoric adjectivehistorically significantindus artifactkeepsake
Show 5 more words
Preposition(1 words)
from history

Related words (123)

Noun(25 words)
most ancientmuseum artifactnonesuchodditiesold-timerolenekolimbosoutdated figurepottery remnantremainderremnantremnant of civilizationremnantssigehsouvenirspoorthrowbackstokentoyonakitrace with finger
Show 5 more words
Determiner(3 words)
most colonial artifactmost cultural remnantsno remnants
Adjective(4 words)
oldestprehistoric objectstangible objectworldly item

Choosing the right synonym

  • Closest matches in this entry: account, age old, agnus dei, ancient artifact, ancient artifacts.
  • Sentence evidence is available for relic, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
  • Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.

Synonym selection checklist

  • Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
  • Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
  • Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "relic".
  • Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.

When not to replace "relic"

Keep "relic" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.

If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.

Replacement workflow

1. Preserve meaning

Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "relic" intact in the sentence you are editing.

2. Tune tone

Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.

3. Re-read context

Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.

Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.

Final fit check

After choosing a replacement for "relic", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.

If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "relic" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.

Related word relations

OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.

5 relation types

More general

6 entries

More specific

4 entries
ancient artifactelderholy relicold-timer

Collocations

6 entries
ancient relichistorical artifactholy relicliving relicmuseum relicrelic of the past

Inflections

1 entries

Derivations

2 entries

Sample sentences

28 total sentences available.

Tatoeba + Wiktionary

The faithful believe that this relic is imbued with healing properties.

Source: tatoeba (727193)

War is a disgusting relic of humanity's bestial past.

Source: tatoeba (10147380)

Zoos are a relic of the barbaric past. Animals should live in their natural habitats.

Source: tatoeba (10692874)

Slavery is often thought of as a relic of past centuries, and is banned internationally.

Source: tatoeba (11046937)

Showing 4 of 28 available sentences.

Common questions

What are the closest synonyms for "relic"?

Closest matches include account, age old, agnus dei, ancient artifact, ancient artifacts.

How should I check whether a synonym fits "relic"?

Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.

More for "relic"