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moth-eaten

adjective

ˈmȯth-ˌē-tᵊn How to pronounce moth-eaten (audio)
Definition of moth-eatennext
1
as in obsolete
having passed its time of use or usefulness moth-eaten scientific theories that no one's believed in ages

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect a man who's been wearing the same moth-eaten clothes for decades

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stereotyped
used or heard so often as to be dull an uncle who tells the same moth-eaten stories every Thanksgiving

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for moth-eaten
  1. obsolete
  2. dilapidated
  3. stereotyped
  4. archaic
  5. neglected
  6. tired
  7. antiquated
  8. hackneyed
Adjective
  • Probably the easiest description of psychosis is the obsolete term of insanity.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
  • But as the history of trading technology shows, what is considered groundbreaking one day can be obsolete the next.
    — Brian Lund, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of obsolete
Adjective
  • The developer would tear down and renovate some of the dilapidated affordable units.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 9 Sep. 2026
  • But neighbors call him when trash is not picked up or a dilapidated property becomes a problem.
    — Harry Bruinius, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of dilapidated
Adjective
  • Despite their outer appearances and oftentimes stereotyped personalities, the ladies embrace each other’s depths and contradictions.
    — Meagan Jordan, VIBE.com, 10 July 2026
  • This is a directed, stereotyped behavior in which the highest-resolution region of the somatosensory surface is brought to bear on the object requiring the most detailed analysis.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
Definition of stereotyped
Adjective
  • And Lukas’ father is at pains to cope with the situation without resorting to archaic methods of patriarchal control.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • The rest were made with metalpoint, an archaic drafting technique closely associated with Renaissance drawing in Italy and Northern Europe.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of archaic
Adjective
  • Investors and analysts are increasingly looking to other parts of the market, both to find neglected sources of value and to start assuming a defensive posture against a possible downturn.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 July 2026
  • Changing their environment is more reliable and more neglected.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026
Definition of neglected
Adjective
  • Plus, while the pill improved certain sleep metrics, people who took it didn’t report being any less tired during the day.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Sep. 2026
  • All the locals are tired after another demanding [tourism] season, but at the same time, there is a feeling of optimism.
    — Chadner Navarro, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • Costco online cake ordering updates antiquated system The online cake ordering feature was first revealed to be on the way by Costco CEO Ron Vachris in the company's quarterly earnings call in December 2025.
    — Gabe Hauari, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Additionally, interviews and encounters with the slain officers’ family members also illustrate the cost and harm of a job that was formed in the early 19th century and remains antiquated and unchanged in our 21st-century world.
    — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • There’s some hackneyed dialogue, much of it borne by Neeson, who despite his prominence in advertising gets sidelined for most of the running time.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Maybe so, but think of how badly Congress had stated those hackneyed ideas.
    — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
Definition of hackneyed
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.

Browse Nearby Words

mothballs
moth-eaten
mother
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Cite this Entry

“Moth-eaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moth-eaten. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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