shopworn
adjective
shop·worn
ˈshäp-ˌwȯrn 
1
: faded, soiled, or otherwise impaired by remaining too long in a store
2
: stale from excessive use or familiarity
shopworn clichés
3
: worn-out
a shopworn veteran
Examples of shopworn in a Sentence
the shopworn suggestion to job applicants to “just be yourself”
Recent Examples on the Web
So much of his work seems dull, shopworn, generic.
—
James Marcus, The New Yorker, 1 June 2020
Carson said — 50 times Carson’s office, on a quiet street in downtown Modesto, was gritty and shopworn and functional in feel.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2021
If your listing has become shopworn, look at reducing the price or offering incentives.
—John Nugent, Houston Chronicle, 4 July 2020
See All Example Sentences for shopworn
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
James Marcus, The New Yorker, 1 June 2020
Carson said — 50 times Carson’s office, on a quiet street in downtown Modesto, was gritty and shopworn and functional in feel.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2021
If your listing has become shopworn, look at reducing the price or offering incentives.
—John Nugent, Houston Chronicle, 4 July 2020
See All Example Sentences for shopworn
Cite this Entry
“Shopworn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shopworn. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shopworn
adjective
shop·worn
-ˌwō(ə)rn
-ˌwȯ(ə)rn
1
: faded or soiled from being too long in a store
2
: stale from too much use of familiarity
shopworn suggestions
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share