threadbare

adjective

thread·​bare ˈthred-ˌber 

1

a

: having the nap worn off so that the thread shows : shabby

threadbare clothes

b

: wearing threadbare clothing : very poor

… took in threadbare relatives.

—Russell Baker

c

: barely adequate because of cheapness or shabbiness

a threadbare production

2

: exhausted of interest or freshness

threadbareness noun

Synonyms of threadbare

• dilapidated
• neglected

Choose the Right Synonym for threadbare

trite, hackneyed, stereotyped, threadbare mean lacking the freshness that evokes attention or interest.

trite applies to a once effective phrase or idea spoiled from long familiarity.

"you win some, you lose some" is a trite expression

hackneyed stresses being worn out by overuse so as to become dull and meaningless.

all of the metaphors and images in the poem are hackneyed

stereotyped implies falling invariably into the same pattern or form.

views of minorities that are stereotyped and out-of-date

threadbare applies to what has been used until its possibilities of interest have been totally exhausted.

a mystery novel with a threadbare plot

Examples of threadbare in a Sentence

bought a threadbare couch at a garage sale

a novel filled with nothing but threadbare clichés

Recent Examples on the Web

Parrish stood at the wheel, his gimlet eyes surveying the water beneath a threadbare Pink Floyd cap. —Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026

The threadbare ballads from ’90s indie rock records that could have been breakthrough hits if presented in slightly cleaner fidelity. —Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026

Manchester United have among the best fixtures in the next four gameweeks, facing a threadbare Newcastle United defence, before games against Wolves, Leeds United and Burnley. —Holly Shand, New York Times, 24 Dec. 2025

The plane smelled like mildew and body odor, and the seats looked threadbare. —Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 13 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for threadbare

• abwehr
• affair
• affaire
• airfare
• altair
• armchair
• aware
• beware
• bugbear
• carfare
• childcare
• compare

Kids Definition

threadbare

adjective

thread·​bare ˈthred-ˌba(ə)r 

-ˌbe(ə)r

1

: worn so much that the thread shows : shabby

threadbare clothes

2

: barely adequate

a threadbare store with few items

a threadbare event lacking excitement

3

: having lost freshness and interest from overuse

threadbare jokes