If "contemporary" refers to time:
* Past: This is the most direct opposite, referring to anything that happened before the present.
* Historical: This emphasizes the study or understanding of past events.
* Traditional: This implies something that is old-fashioned or follows established customs.
* Ancient: This specifically refers to a very distant past.
If "contemporary" refers to style or design:
* Classical: This refers to a style that is based on the art and architecture of ancient Greece and Rome.
* Traditional: This refers to a style that is based on past customs or designs.
* Retro: This refers to a style that is inspired by a specific past era, like the 1950s or 1980s.
* Vintage: This refers to something that is old and collectible.
If "contemporary" refers to something being relevant to the present:
* Obsolete: This means something is no longer in use or relevant.
* Outdated: This implies that something is no longer up-to-date.
* Irrelevant: This means something is not important or connected to the current situation.
To determine the most accurate opposite of "contemporary" in your specific context, consider what the word means in that situation and what you want to express.