1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
bought a threadbare couch at a garage sale
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cliche
used or heard so often as to be dull
a novel filled with nothing but threadbare clichés
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags
I loved that threadbare shirt, but after 10 years of wear, it was time to throw it away
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
never knew that she had so many threadbare relatives until she won the lottery
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of threadbare
Wilson — who lands the most appearances on this list with four — plays this all with a threadbare layer of charm.
—
Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg enjoyed the City Tavern Club, a modest, threadbare place with monthly dues on the order of two hundred dollars.
—Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
The Croisette, usually home to giant activations for upcoming studio releases, was threadbare.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 20 May 2025
Although the Bulls have a few genuinely promising options at guard and wing positions, their current frontcourt is threadbare.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg enjoyed the City Tavern Club, a modest, threadbare place with monthly dues on the order of two hundred dollars.
—Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
The Croisette, usually home to giant activations for upcoming studio releases, was threadbare.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 20 May 2025
Although the Bulls have a few genuinely promising options at guard and wing positions, their current frontcourt is threadbare.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threadbare
Adjective
-
From iconic buildings being saved to companies opening new interactive experiences for guests, the repurposing of old warehouses and dilapidated properties has allowed for growth in Louisville's urban areas.—
Olivia Evans,
The Courier-Journal,
2 July 2025
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Now, as soon as next year, the historic campus will transform into housing with 213 apartments as the city's Department of Metropolitan Development and private developers redevelop dilapidated buildings downtown into residential and commercial spaces.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 July 2025
Adjective
-
On a visit to another small Ok. town, Cox spied a tattered awning that said Country Bird, which was the perfect name for her bakery.—
Gary Stern,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
Living under a tattered flag of St. George, the people here have reconstructed some semblance of society by relying on traditional tasks and traditional attitudes.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
Will parts of Norway look like Nauru, a formerly lush tropical paradise stripped of its phosphate rock, and now a barren, impoverished cautionary tale?—
Suwanna Gauntlett Upjohn,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
The owner had purchased it in 2006 through a federal mortgage program designed specifically for people like her: impoverished, first-time homeowners who live in the most rural parts of the United States.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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But its location in the neglected and overgrown space remains a mystery.—
Laura L. Davis,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
-
What’s a neglected part of your ME—your health, learning, or joy?—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
Adjective
-
Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
-
Their negative stereotyped reputation seems to follow them like ageism follows older employees or sexism follows female employees.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
In-ho rolls down his window and looks into the alley, where a man in ragged clothes is playing ddakji with a woman (Blanchett) in a pristine gray suit.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
29 June 2025
-
The breaks in these branches were more ragged and irregular.—
Tim Johnson,
Chicago Tribune,
5 July 2025
Adjective
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Spurred by climate change, Canadian wildfires have increasingly exacerbated poor air quality across Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin.—
Maia Pandey,
jsonline.com,
24 July 2025
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Because her judgment is so poor, your aggressively driving grandmother should not be behind the wheel.—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Already, 47% of clinicians report that being tired has impacted their abilities to treat patients.—
Victoria Feng,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
His legs are going to be a little tired, as to be expected.—
Roderick Boone
Updated July 11,
Charlotte Observer,
12 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Threadbare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threadbare. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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