as in stereotyped
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of well-worn
The restaurant, which opened in late 2016 in the spot once home to the German restaurant Glockenspiel, earned consistent plaudits from Pioneer Press writers and beyond for its cozy and well-worn vibe, great food and even better cocktail menu.
—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
16 Mar. 2026
Perry’s lyrics split the difference between contemporary and well-worn depictions of romance.
—
Arielle Gordon,
Pitchfork,
26 Feb. 2026
On the field of his life, his shoes were well-worn.
—
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Sun-faded and well-worn, a great pair of distressed jeans can tell a story in its patches and tears.
—
Rosie Jarman,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
Nearly a decade later, the show’s schtick has become arguably well-worn, with storylines borrowing from its past seasons nearly as much as popular '80s fare.
—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
3 Dec. 2025
Customers looking to personalize or rework their new or well-worn boots can pay a visit to the store’s Repair & Customisation Bar and learn about the brand’s partnership with The Boot Repair Company.
—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
26 Nov. 2025
The statistic is well-worn, even after an off week.
—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
The bat, which was well-worn, had some discoloration around the barrel.
—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Sep. 2025
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
16 Mar. 2026
Perry’s lyrics split the difference between contemporary and well-worn depictions of romance.
—
Arielle Gordon,
Pitchfork,
26 Feb. 2026
On the field of his life, his shoes were well-worn.
—
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Sun-faded and well-worn, a great pair of distressed jeans can tell a story in its patches and tears.
—
Rosie Jarman,
Vogue,
27 Jan. 2026
Nearly a decade later, the show’s schtick has become arguably well-worn, with storylines borrowing from its past seasons nearly as much as popular '80s fare.
—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
3 Dec. 2025
Customers looking to personalize or rework their new or well-worn boots can pay a visit to the store’s Repair & Customisation Bar and learn about the brand’s partnership with The Boot Repair Company.
—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
26 Nov. 2025
The statistic is well-worn, even after an off week.
—
Pete Sampson,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
The bat, which was well-worn, had some discoloration around the barrel.
—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for well-worn
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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Hollywood Plot Lines and Reality These are the tired questions every UFO skeptic asks.
-
If your complexion tends to look flat or tired by midday, this powder can help bring back some radiance.
Adjective
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Maybe so, but think of how badly Congress had stated those hackneyed ideas.
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While not exactly a feminist screed, the script grants nary a free pass to the glut of hackneyed gender conventions in the golden-age canon without at least cracking a joke.
Adjective
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The Heat also has the ability to purchase an additional second-round pick or sell its second-round selection, which has become commonplace over the years.
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Rather than being exceptions, such landmarks are commonplace in Cambridge.
Adjective
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Not just an obligatory gesture but something that felt genuine and heartfelt.
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While the royal family's website says that there are no obligatory codes of behavior for meeting King Charles, Queen Camilla or other royals, the traditional forms of address are a small curtsy for women and a neck bow for men.
Cite this Entry
“Well-worn.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/well-worn. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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