1
as in obsolete
having passed its time of use or usefulness
moth-eaten scientific theories that no one's believed in ages
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Recent Examples of moth-eaten
When clothing is moth-eaten, see Ronald Moore at French-American Reweaving Co. (119 W. 57th St.; 212-765-4670).
—
The Editors, Curbed, 9 May 2025
The Editors, Curbed, 9 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moth-eaten
Adjective
-
Crucially, this is not an argument that campuses are obsolete.—
Ian Gibson,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Longtime breakfast staples like oatmeal and potatoes, which could take hours to prepare and cook, were suddenly obsolete.—
Heather Bushman,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Its dilapidated state and lack of funding — just $25,000 was budgeted for programming by the city last year — prevents the facility from offering a full slate of services for residents.—
Gayla Cawley,
Boston Herald,
14 Apr. 2026
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The decedent lived in a dilapidated house, but in a respectable neighborhood, and I was therefore deluged with credit card offers addressed to the late debtor, a long-time devoted heroin addict.—
George Liebmann,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Kelly Enders-Tharp, a three-time surrogate and education and experience specialist at Growing Generations, explains that surrogates are often stereotyped, or that their backgrounds are misrepresented.—
Kris Ann Valdez,
Parents,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Later, Lenape artist Joe Baker places cutout photographs of his ancestors over the stereotyped images of Native Americans found in the wallpaper.—
Tom McDonough,
Artforum,
1 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Rather remain archaic and barbaric than find a better option to give.—
Yesika Salgado,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Apr. 2026
-
An American classic, the cover oddly archaic, blue, with disembodied eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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When first performed at L.A. Opera a decade ago, the lavish production, co-produced with English National Opera, helped recover a neglected opera.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
His refusal to weaponize suffering is one of his most important — and most neglected— lessons.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Music lovers tired of paying hundreds of dollars to see big-name acts may be getting some relief.—
Andy Sheehan,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
At the root of the problem are both antiquated technology and staffing issues.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
These antiquated institutions barely provide heat in the winter and cannot cool down in the summer.—
Steve Zeidman,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Wise knew that these hackneyed tools would get him nowhere.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Few parents can follow the hackneyed wisdom of living in the moment.—
Yiyun Li,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Moth-eaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moth-eaten. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.
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