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 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
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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
Beneath the threadbare sweater is another case containing a picture of a bucolic waterfall, and beneath that a final cabinet containing green wellington boots with pink toes emerging.
—
Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
As in self-consciously old-fashioned, or maybe just lavishly threadbare.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 Dec. 2024
The interior of the offensive line is threadbare, with question marks at center and one guard spot.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
But as ProPublica reported this year, court oversight of these officials is threadbare.
—Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 8 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
As in self-consciously old-fashioned, or maybe just lavishly threadbare.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 Dec. 2024
The interior of the offensive line is threadbare, with question marks at center and one guard spot.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
But as ProPublica reported this year, court oversight of these officials is threadbare.
—Jake Pearson, ProPublica, 8 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threadbare
Adjective
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Located inside an early 20th-century building, this dilapidated space has been given a new lease on life by the Parisian interior designer.—
Annabelle Dufraigne,
Architectural Digest,
8 Apr. 2025
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Rows of young men in camouflage report for roll call in the shadow of dilapidated, battle-scarred buildings.—
Dominique Soguel,
Christian Science Monitor,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The other traditional party, the Liberal Party, has splintered between those who remain loyal to Zelaya and those who led the coup, including Mauricio Villeda, the presidential candidate who leads a tattered vestige of his party.—
Dana Frank,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Nov. 2013
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What if standing up to Trump is the very thing that saves the Liberal Party, and Trudeau’s tattered legacy?—
Talib Visram,
TIME,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Criminal justice scholars say that when scores based on immutable facts are weighted so heavily in parole decisions, prisoners from impoverished, racially segregated communities are more likely to be hurt.—
Richard A. Webster,
ProPublica,
10 Apr. 2025
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The once-vacant lot across the street from her childhood playground on Washington Avenue is now home to Wilcox Academy, an early learning center that represents a powerful investment in a historically impoverished community.—
Raymond Pierce,
Forbes.com,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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By upcycling a neglected garment, Hirsch hopes to give someone the chance to experience the beauty and craftsmanship that goes into creating a piece.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
-
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
-
Cocker was famous for his ragged, one-of-a-kind covers of other acts’ famous songs, with Joel comparing the late singer to such legendary song interpreters as Frank Sinatra.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
1 Apr. 2025
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Grand Canyon didn’t do enough to punish Maryland for its ragged start.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Road conditions are rapidly deteriorating, with the percentage of roads in poor condition expected to double in two years.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Apr. 2025
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Some parents worry that Alexa's high tolerance for rudeness instills poor behavior in their kids, according to Quartz.—
Emily Forlini,
PC Magazine,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But people here are tired of seeing Farmington in the headlines as a town that's losing population.—
Kirk Siegler,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2025
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And there’s kids who are tired, or crying or can’t handle it.—
Andy Mitten,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Threadbare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threadbare. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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