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 stereotyped
used or heard so often as to be dull
a novel filled with nothing but threadbare clichés
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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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of threadbare
That could be a problem for Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson, who are already governing with threadbare majorities.
—
Steven Sloan,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
For the past 10 months, since a frustrated Colbert announced the cancellation of the three-decade-old talk show in July 2025, the countdown to his farewell has been looming over Colbert and the whole of the late-night genre like a guillotine with a threadbare rope.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Picture him in his threadbare suit, nervously smoking his Tecla cigarettes, his eyes obliquely devouring everything, his notes on a small table that resembles a pulpit.
—
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
For every person who prefers spending their holiday by the infinity pool of an all-inclusive resort, there’s another who sleeps in moldy dormitories, sweats on hours-long bus rides without air conditioning, and lives out of a bulging, threadbare backpack.
—
Tim Brinkhof,
Time,
4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Steven Sloan,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
For the past 10 months, since a frustrated Colbert announced the cancellation of the three-decade-old talk show in July 2025, the countdown to his farewell has been looming over Colbert and the whole of the late-night genre like a guillotine with a threadbare rope.
—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Picture him in his threadbare suit, nervously smoking his Tecla cigarettes, his eyes obliquely devouring everything, his notes on a small table that resembles a pulpit.
—
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
For every person who prefers spending their holiday by the infinity pool of an all-inclusive resort, there’s another who sleeps in moldy dormitories, sweats on hours-long bus rides without air conditioning, and lives out of a bulging, threadbare backpack.
—
Tim Brinkhof,
Time,
4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threadbare
Adjective
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The Reflecting Pool has been a pet project of the president, who, before renovations got underway this spring, characterized it as dilapidated and dirty and said previous presidents had neglected it.
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Unable to pay rent, the boys moved several hours away to the small, dilapidated house with the leaky roof where rent is minimal.
Adjective
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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.
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In some cases, praise took on overtly stereotyped forms: words like 'love' were used disproportionately with female students, while 'powerful' appeared only for Black students.
Adjective
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One-touch passing, feinting and ripping hard shots into a tattered net, each is super-charged by vivid daydreams of glory on the international stage.
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The look was created from tattered bootleg championship shirts in blue, white and orange, which were sourced from vendors in NYC this week.
Adjective
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South Africa has a history of xenophobic violence as migrants from poor nations like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Malawi generally end up settling in impoverished communities in South Africa where unemployment and frustrations are high.
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Dreesen moved to Los Angeles, living on $1 a day and hitchhiking to The Comedy Store, begging for a set and bonding with other impoverished comedians.
Adjective
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Underdog startups and neglected divisions tell similar stories.
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Cinematographer Guillermo Garza shoots neglected settings like fine art, embracing the grime.
Adjective
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Hollywood Plot Lines and Reality These are the tired questions every UFO skeptic asks.
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If your complexion tends to look flat or tired by midday, this powder can help bring back some radiance.
Adjective
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His hushed, ragged whisper feels suitably weathered, fitting a collection of songs that never are in a hurry.
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Slugs and snails are some of the peskiest garden visitors that can riddle plant leaves with ragged holes or chew tender crops like lettuce down to nubs overnight.
Adjective
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Rebecca Lowe joins Dan Patrick to discuss some of the top storylines around the World Cup, including Cristiano Ronaldo's poor play to start, the United States' potential and more.
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Will the gap between rural and urban America – and the gap between rich and poor America – decline or grow?
Cite this Entry
“Threadbare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threadbare. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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