render obsolete

USAGE SUMMARY

'render obsolete' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that makes an old method or practice no longer useful or relevant. For example, "The advent of the internet has rendered many traditional forms of communication obsolete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

40 human-written examples

A wireless medical patch would render obsolete much of the clunky diagnostic equipment in hospitals.

The New Yorker

It's the kind of excruciatingly square farce that the publication of "Lolita" would render obsolete.

The New Yorker

Those changes render obsolete whatever criteria companies are using to identify customer problems they could address.

Harvard Business Review

This would reduce Nokia to being a device-maker and render obsolete many of its investments in services.

The Economist

The two photographers stand out with black-and-white Polaroids of the sort that the manufacturer will soon render obsolete.

The New Yorker

First, it recognises that cities grow, oftentimes in unpredictable ways that render obsolete traditional conceptions of urban boundaries.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

Passbooks were rendered obsolete.

The New York Times

Travel agents, for example, rendered obsolete by Orbitz and Expedia.

The Washington Post

Unfortunately, this means that your role with the company has been rendered obsolete.

The New Yorker

Why invest in expensive technology that might be rendered obsolete by future regulatory action?

The Economist

THE list of longshore jobs that technology has rendered obsolete is long and poignant.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "render obsolete" when you want to emphasize that a new development has completely eliminated the usefulness of something older. For example, "The invention of the smartphone has rendered many traditional cameras obsolete."

Common error

Avoid using "render obsolete" when something is merely less popular or less frequently used. "Render obsolete" implies a complete lack of utility, not just a decline in usage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "render obsolete" functions as a transitive verb phrase. According to Ludwig, it indicates that something causes another thing to become outdated and no longer useful. This is clearly shown in the examples, where advancements or new technologies are the subjects rendering older systems obsolete.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Formal & Business

21%

Science

18%

Less common in

Academia

11%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "render obsolete" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed verb phrase that means to cause something to become outdated and no longer useful. As Ludwig highlights, its effective use signals a transformative shift where older methods or technologies are superseded by advancements. Predominantly found in news, business and scientific contexts, it's essential to use "render obsolete" accurately, ensuring the subject truly lacks utility rather than merely diminishing in popularity. Keep in mind phrases such as "make unnecessary" or "make redundant" offer similar meanings but might be better suited based on the nuances of context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make unnecessary

This alternative focuses on removing the need for something.

make redundant

This alternative emphasizes the surplus or excess of something.

cause to be outdated

This alternative stresses the passage of time and resulting irrelevance.

put out of use

This alternative emphasizes the act of discontinuing the use of something.

supersede

This alternative indicates replacing something with something newer or better.

outdate

This alternative focuses on causing something to become old-fashioned.

invalidate

This alternative means to make something without legal value.

nullify

This alternative means to make of no value or consequence.

make defunct

This alternative focuses on something ceasing to exist or function.

supplant

This alternative means to replace something with another, especially something of a similar kind.

FAQs

How can I use "render obsolete" in a sentence?

You can use "render obsolete" to describe how a new invention, technology, or method makes older ones unnecessary. For instance, "Digital photography has "rendered obsolete" many traditional film cameras".

What can I say instead of "render obsolete"?

You can use alternatives like "make unnecessary", "make redundant", or "supersede" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "obsolete" or "rendered obsolete"?

"Obsolete" describes the state of being out of date, while "rendered obsolete" describes the action of causing something to become out of date. For example, "Typewriters are obsolete" versus "Computers have "rendered obsolete" typewriters".

What's the difference between "render obsolete" and "replace"?

"Replace" simply means to take the place of something, while "render obsolete" implies that the original thing is no longer useful or needed because of the replacement. "A smartphone replaced my old phone" versus "The smartphone "rendered obsolete" my need for a separate camera, GPS, and music player".