What is the synonym of olden

Olden is somewhat archaic itself, typically appearing in the phrase "olden days/times," meaning the past or former times, especially the distant past. Synonyms include ancient, bygone, former, old, past, earlier, previous, antiquated, and historical. Bygone particularly matches the nostalgic or historical tone of "olden"—"bygone era" parallels "olden days" well. Ancient works for the very distant past, while former or earlier work for less remote times. Yesteryear carries similar old-fashioned, nostalgic connotations.

The word "olden" itself sounds deliberately archaic or literary, often used to create nostalgic tone or historical distance—"in the olden days before smartphones" or "olden times when knights roamed." This makes it function differently from straightforward synonyms like "past" or "old." If replacing "olden days," consider what tone you want: "the past" or "earlier times" sound neutral and modern; "days gone by" or "yesteryear" maintain nostalgic tone; "ancient times" emphasizes great temporal distance; "back then" or "in those days" sound conversational. For historical writing, "historical period,""earlier era," or specific period names (Victorian era, medieval times) provide precision. Choose based on whether you want archaic charm, neutral reference, or specific historical designation.