feel obsolete

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feel obsolete" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express a sense of being outdated or no longer relevant, often in relation to technology, ideas, or personal feelings. Example: "As new technologies emerge, I sometimes feel obsolete in my understanding of the latest trends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Now they make me feel obsolete.

The New York Times

Even the pictures feel obsolete; the eyeglass frames are unfashionably thick.

The New York Times

One day, all of this would feel obsolete.

Huffington Post

Instantaneous makes a gas powered vehicle's response delay feel obsolete.

Huffington Post

A boy named Travis (voiced by Johnny Orlando) accidentally finds the place Paul and Babe have been hiding out since technological advances made them feel obsolete.

Huffington Post

It was both a throwback to the venue's heyday, before the internet made many bathhouses feel obsolete, and a glimpse at what could have been had they thrown more events like this, which balanced sleaze with sociability and made the place appealing to those beyond the aging gay generation for which it was once a mecca.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The current model of e-mail feels obsolete".

The New York Times - Tech

Frank and Claire's perspective feels obsolete and the parallels with current events are uncharacteristically weak.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But when the spiraling beehive of the Guggenheim Museum flashed like a neon firecracker and the scores of sculptures suspended from the dome pulsed with light, every other party felt obsolete.

The New York Times

(One could argue that VHS tapes, DVDs, and Blu-Ray discs first started the trend toward better home-theater setup and consumers' I-want-it-now tendencies, but they hardly made the theater experience feel as obsolete as streaming and VOD services).

Huffington Post

Such moods were rare, however, and in his more frequent negative ones he felt "very obsolete and disregarded".

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "feel obsolete" when you want to express a personal sentiment of being outdated, typically in the context of rapid technological or social changes. It's suitable for expressing subjective experience.

Common error

Avoid using "feel obsolete" to describe something that is objectively obsolete. The phrase is best used to describe a personal feeling, not a factual state. For example, say "I feel obsolete using this old software" not "This software feels obsolete" if you want to express your personal sentiment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feel obsolete" functions as a verb phrase expressing a subjective feeling or perception. Ludwig provides examples where individuals describe feeling outdated or no longer relevant in various contexts, reflecting a personal experience of obsolescence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "feel obsolete" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a subjective feeling of being outdated or irrelevant, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is most frequently found in News & Media, reflecting discussions of technology, social change, and personal experience. While other phrases like "feel outdated" or "feel irrelevant" offer similar meanings, "feel obsolete" specifically captures the sense of being superseded or no longer useful. Remember to use "feel obsolete" to describe a personal feeling and avoid confusing it with an objective state of obsolescence. The examples provided by Ludwig showcase its versatility in expressing this particular sentiment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feel outdated

Focuses on being behind current trends or standards.

feel out of date

Similar to "feel outdated" but can also apply to information or skills.

feel irrelevant

Emphasizes a lack of importance or connection to current events or situations.

feel antiquated

Suggests a sense of being old-fashioned or belonging to a bygone era.

feel past it

Informal way of saying one is no longer capable or useful, especially due to age.

feel like a dinosaur

Figurative expression implying one is out of touch and from a different time.

feel like yesterday's news

Suggests that one is no longer interesting or important.

feel superannuated

Formal term for being retired or too old for a position or task.

feel bypassed

Emphasizes the sensation of others having moved ahead or beyond one.

feel superseded

A formal term suggesting replacement by something newer or better.

FAQs

How to use "feel obsolete" in a sentence?

You can use "feel obsolete" to express a sense of being outdated or no longer relevant. For example: "As new technologies emerge, I sometimes feel obsolete in my understanding of the latest trends."

What can I say instead of "feel obsolete"?

You can use alternatives like "feel outdated", "feel irrelevant", or "feel antiquated" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "feel obsolete" or "become obsolete"?

"Feel obsolete" describes a personal feeling, while "become obsolete" describes something that is no longer used or needed because something newer exists. They have different meanings and usages.

What's the difference between "feel obsolete" and "being obsolete"?

"Feel obsolete" is a subjective feeling of being outdated, whereas "being obsolete" is an objective state of no longer being useful or relevant. "I feel obsolete" expresses a personal sentiment, while "This technology is obsolete" describes a factual situation.