1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
bought a threadbare couch at a garage sale
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cliche
used or heard so often as to be dull
a novel filled with nothing but threadbare clichés
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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
Or rampant public urination represents another snag in the threadbare social fabric.
—
Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
At least one of those additions is likely to come at linebacker, where the Trojans’ depth is most threadbare.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
Bidgood’s vision is neither as exhilaratingly threadbare as Smith’s nor as perversely opulent as Anger’s — still, blown up to 35-millimeter, the eight-millimeter stock is gorgeously grainy.
—J. Hoberman, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
The plot, too, is threadbare to the point of incoherence, with a slew of overqualified performers — including Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville — left to fill in the gaps as fairies, man-crows, and anthropomorphized mushroom caps.
—Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025
At least one of those additions is likely to come at linebacker, where the Trojans’ depth is most threadbare.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2025
Bidgood’s vision is neither as exhilaratingly threadbare as Smith’s nor as perversely opulent as Anger’s — still, blown up to 35-millimeter, the eight-millimeter stock is gorgeously grainy.
—J. Hoberman, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
The plot, too, is threadbare to the point of incoherence, with a slew of overqualified performers — including Imelda Staunton and Lesley Manville — left to fill in the gaps as fairies, man-crows, and anthropomorphized mushroom caps.
—Staff Author, EW.com, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threadbare
Adjective
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Elsewhere, though, anxiety permeates the dilapidated bars, karaoke clubs, and music halls into which Jia pokes his camera.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
2 May 2025
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In Los Angeles, $500,000 gets you a dilapidated hut in the hood with a permanent police siren soundtrack.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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Set in the year 3333 on a desolate alien world, players take on the role of the Swordsman, a somewhat blank slate character with minimalist features clad in a tattered cloak.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
24 June 2025
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And then, in close-up, a bulldozer turns over rubble, and a family photograph is glimpsed in the debris, a tattered symbol of what has been lost.—
Catherine Bray,
Variety,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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In Zimbabwe, the Catholic Church operates about 100 schools, ranging from dozens in impoverished areas where annual tuition is as low as $150 to elite boarding schools that can charge thousands of dollars.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
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Some government functions were eviscerated, such as the U.S. Agency for International Development, which had provided a lifeline for impoverished people around the world.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 May 2025
Adjective
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What’s a neglected part of your ME—your health, learning, or joy?—
Nell Derick Debevoise,
Forbes.com,
10 June 2025
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But the area where these cuts will be felt most acutely is with respect to elder abuse, which is already a neglected area of health care and social services.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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Their negative stereotyped reputation seems to follow them like ageism follows older employees or sexism follows female employees.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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An unkempt lawn with ragged edges signals a lack of care to all who pass it by.—
Sophie Flaxman,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 June 2025
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In the clip, the small dog scuttles into the room clutching his ragged bear, which has a hole that has caused its stuffing to spill out.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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For example, when a company pivots, a poor communicator’s vague memo creates fear.—
Lori Huss,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
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In past decades, this stage was easy to spot: clashing colors, poor makeup attempts, and wardrobes inspired by favorite TV stars.—
Dia Gallo,
Parents,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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Mowing Lawns Homeowners are usually away on vacation or are probably too tired to maintain their yards.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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But, in Dick’s opinion, Charlie grew tired of baseball’s daily grind.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
22 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Threadbare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threadbare. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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