as in cliche
used or heard so often as to be dull
people at the funeral offered the grieving family well-worn platitudes and expressions of sympathy
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Recent Examples of well-worn
The scuffed and well-worn bag, a prototype created for Birkin, is the only one of its kind with a non-removable shoulder strap and attached nail clipper, illustrative of the bohemian effortlessness that garnered Birkin her fame.
—
India Brown, Robb Report, 10 July 2025
The New York subway system was one of Keith Haring’s most beloved and well-worn canvases.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2024
The we’re-never-going-to-play-together-again-to-lucrative-reunion trail is well-worn at this point — just ask such famously feuding acts as the Eagles, Guns ‘N Roses, Pixies and, most recently and famously, Oasis: If there’s a windfall, there’s a way.
—Jeff Miller, Variety, 12 Sep. 2024
An inter-generational audience of 200 attendees gathered at Oak Park’s Guild Theater, many with copies of The 1619 Project book, some well-worn, adorned with bookmarks and annotations, and others had never been opened before, having been bought minutes earlier at the entrance booth in preparation.
—Acsah Lemma, Sacramento Bee, 18 June 2024
The ship generally looks good for its age, but some parts appeared well-worn.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 16 June 2024
Costume designer Kiyoshi Shaw provides outfits that helpfully remind you of the show’s early 20th century time period yet also seem natural, comfortable and well-worn.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2024
After the Renaissance and Impressionism, maybe the most well-worn.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
So, of course, this means Christina Aguilera could not possibly continue on this now well-worn — albeit still undeniably chic — path.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 5 Feb. 2024
India Brown, Robb Report, 10 July 2025
The New York subway system was one of Keith Haring’s most beloved and well-worn canvases.
—Julia Binswanger, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Nov. 2024
The we’re-never-going-to-play-together-again-to-lucrative-reunion trail is well-worn at this point — just ask such famously feuding acts as the Eagles, Guns ‘N Roses, Pixies and, most recently and famously, Oasis: If there’s a windfall, there’s a way.
—Jeff Miller, Variety, 12 Sep. 2024
An inter-generational audience of 200 attendees gathered at Oak Park’s Guild Theater, many with copies of The 1619 Project book, some well-worn, adorned with bookmarks and annotations, and others had never been opened before, having been bought minutes earlier at the entrance booth in preparation.
—Acsah Lemma, Sacramento Bee, 18 June 2024
The ship generally looks good for its age, but some parts appeared well-worn.
—Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 16 June 2024
Costume designer Kiyoshi Shaw provides outfits that helpfully remind you of the show’s early 20th century time period yet also seem natural, comfortable and well-worn.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 8 May 2024
After the Renaissance and Impressionism, maybe the most well-worn.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
So, of course, this means Christina Aguilera could not possibly continue on this now well-worn — albeit still undeniably chic — path.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 5 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for well-worn
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
-
Susan has lifted us up for 50 years; and her arms have not grown tired.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Discard the tired-looking center and separate clumps from the outer edges by hand or use a sharp knife or pruning saw.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Trauma is not a hackneyed literary trope in the work of Miriam Toews.—
Lorrie Moore,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Sep. 2025
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Similarly, the billionaire-villain forgery subplot and the insertion of romance into team dynamics came across as forced, hackneyed and unnecessary.—
Karl Moore,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
Adjective
-
Over time, as refrigerators became commonplace, butter dishes slipped into the background.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
8 Sep. 2025
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The recent experiment by Vodafone comes as AI influencers become more commonplace online.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Well-worn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well-worn. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.
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