1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
bought a threadbare couch at a garage sale
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in cliche
used or heard so often as to be dull
a novel filled with nothing but threadbare clichés
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
never knew that she had so many threadbare relatives until she won the lottery
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of threadbare
Amid textile shortages, Japanese veterans continued wearing threadbare flight suits, and families found clothes by scouring the black market.
—
Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Unfortunately, these strengths are working in service of a story too flimsy to support them, an unsatisfying combination of threadbare tropes, predictable twists and a wafer-thin character study.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
At the same time, the air defense network NATO members would rely on in the event of a Russian attack is threadbare and officials are clear that air defenses are a top priority as the alliance's members hunker down to spend 5 percent of GDP on defense.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
More than that, San Francisco is threadbare at the receiver spot and is desperate for bodies.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Unfortunately, these strengths are working in service of a story too flimsy to support them, an unsatisfying combination of threadbare tropes, predictable twists and a wafer-thin character study.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 30 Aug. 2025
At the same time, the air defense network NATO members would rely on in the event of a Russian attack is threadbare and officials are clear that air defenses are a top priority as the alliance's members hunker down to spend 5 percent of GDP on defense.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Aug. 2025
More than that, San Francisco is threadbare at the receiver spot and is desperate for bodies.
—The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threadbare
Adjective
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The demolition of the former dilapidated Northridge Mall, which began last year, is finished.—
Hannah Kirby,
jsonline.com,
1 Oct. 2025
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The restaurant is the joint labor of love for couple Wessie and Tradd Newton, who have stewarded the location from a dilapidated structure into a local institution.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Wallen then stumbles to his feet in the middle of the road, as rain pours down, with close-up images showing Wallen in tattered clothes and covered in scrapes and cuts.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
1 Oct. 2025
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Inflation remains stubbornly high and the economic outlook subdued, frustrating efforts to repair tattered public services and ease the cost of living.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
But the Shah’s failure to provide support to the peasants led to their farms failing, and sent waves of impoverished migrants to Tehran and other Iranian cities—many of whom would later fuel the 1979 revolution.—
Nik Kowsar,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
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Her existence in the vibrant capital city of Sepphoris brings into questions some of our traditional assumptions of Mary as an impoverished illiterate from a backwater rural village with no exposure to Greco-Roman culture.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Same premise as the exterior, but even more important: Don’t buy a car with a neglected interior.—
Jimmy Camp,
Oc Register,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Close the Loop Following through on commitments is the simplest and yet shockingly most neglected way to earn long-term trust.—
Serenity Gibbons,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
Adjective
-
Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
-
At the time, Latinos were often cast in stereotyped roles with heavy accents and largely denied the opportunity to direct features.—
Maximilíano Durón,
ARTnews.com,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Blades with ragged edges can be a sign of insects chewing on the blades, and tunneling below the surface or turf that can be lifted like a rug can indicate larvae are feeding on the root system.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The architecture matches the vibe; there's bloodlust in the air and even among the ragged fans who camp along the road outside.—
Neda Ulaby,
NPR,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Similar protests occurred in Brazil over steep living costs and poor healthcare and education ahead of the country hosting the 2014 World Cup tournament.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
2 Oct. 2025
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Over time, dysfunctional breathing reinforces poor posture and scapular instability.—
Dana Santas,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
More pertinently, if Iroegbunam or Gueye tired or did not screen passes correctly (shown below), Rogers and Emiliano Buendia had huge spaces to receive and turn, owing to Everton’s deep centre-backs refusing to step out.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
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If tired, float or tread water until out of the rip current.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Threadbare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threadbare. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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