Erstwhile
Erstwhile adjective - Having been such at some previous time.
Usage example: my erstwhile friend ignored me when I ran into her at the mall
Former
Former adjective - Having been such at some previous time.
Usage example: the coach is a former professional baseball player
Erstwhile is a synonym for former in bygone topic. You can use "Erstwhile" instead the word "Former" as an adjective or an adverb, if it concerns topics such as precede, one-time, previous, previous in time or order. popular alternative
Nearby Word: formerly
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
- Hiyori Sarugaki, Visored and erstwhile vice-captain to Shinji Hirako, delights in hitting people with her sandal, kicking people in the face, and labeling her cohort and former CO a "dickhead".
Source: Cute Bruiser / Anime and Manga -
Bartowski: the super-sexy CIA agent Sarah Walker (Bryce's former partner and erstwhile lover), and the borderline psycho NSA man, John Casey.
Source: Series / Chuck
Cite this Source
Former and Erstwhile. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 14, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/erstwhile/former
Erstwhile & Former. N.p., 2016. Web. 14 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/erstwhile/former>.
Former or Erstwhile. 2016. Accessed August 14, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/erstwhile/former.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "erstwhile" and "former" have occurred on timeline