antiquate

If something antiquates another thing, it makes the second thing seem old-fashioned or no longer useful. Think of how smartphones have largely antiquated landline phones—they've made them feel like relics of the past! It is a bit stronger than simply becoming outdated; to antiquate implies actively causing something else to become obsolete. You wouldn't say your favorite sweater antiquates current fashion, but a revolutionary new technology might certainly antiquate older methods.

Imagine an old blacksmith watching the first automobile roll by. That car doesn't just represent progress; it actively antiquates the blacksmith's traditional craft—making horseshoeing seem less essential and potentially even obsolete. To antiquate something means to make it appear outdated, old-fashioned, or no longer relevant, often by introducing something newer and more efficient.

The word carries a sense of displacement; something is being replaced, not just fading away naturally. It is most commonly used when discussing technologies, methods, or ideas. For example: "The invention of the printing press antiquated the practice of hand-copying manuscripts," or, "New regulations antiquate many previously accepted accounting practices."

While you might say a style is "outdated," antiquate suggests a more forceful and definitive shift. It is not simply that something is no longer popular; it is that something else has actively rendered it obsolete.

Interestingly, the word itself comes from "antique," hinting at a connection to things of the past. So when you antiquate something, you are essentially pushing it toward becoming an antique—a relic of a bygone era.