Which word describes something outdated or old-fashioned?

• A. Archaic
• B. Assuage
• C. Attenuate
• D. Banal

Answer: (A)

Outdated or old-fashioned quality is captured by archaic, a term used for things that belong to an earlier period and feel out of step with the present. It directly signals obsolescence, like archaic spelling or archaic customs that aren’t used anymore. The other words don’t fit this sense: to assuage means to soothe or relieve, not about age; to attenuate means to weaken or reduce, not about being old; and banal describes something dull or unoriginal, which can be boring but isn’t inherently tied to being out-of-date. Archaic is the best fit because it specifically conveys that sense of being from an earlier time.