1
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness
worn-out tourists heading back to their hotel after a hard day of sightseeing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags
used a worn-out T-shirt for dusting the furniture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in worn
to use up all the physical energy of
keeping up with twin toddlers wears me out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of worn-out
Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Characterized by their faded or worn-out effect, as if their original color had been lightened by washing, these beloved jeans stand out for their vintage and carefree air.
—Mayte Salido, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2026
Palestinians have long called for mobile homes and caravans to be allowed in to protect them against living in impractical and worn-out tents.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
By contrast, the U.S. Air Force has only 16 serviceable AWACS, and these are the nearly obsolete and badly worn-out E-3G Sentry.
—Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
But faulty or worn-out tubes can result in water spewing onto sidewalks, Choltko explains.
—Yvette Fernandez, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
Enduring a week’s worth of cold water plunges can jolt the body’s cells into starting the process of autophagy to clean up and recycle old, worn-out, and broken parts, according to a new study.
—New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2025
Balenciaga, too, offered its takes on tailoring, opening its maze-like runway with slim, simple suits — some hand-creased, others worn-out — that felt less provocative than its usual offerings.
—Alice Pfeiffer, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
Most recently, my lack of preparation has left me with a minimal and worn-out rotation of winter travel clothes — a major dilemma, considering there are several weeks left of frigid temperatures ahead of me.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2025
Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
If your utensils have worn out their welcome, swap them with these non-toxic tools to cook without worries.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
Veterans worn out by last game In this three-team, four-quarter format, someone from Game 3 was always going to have to play in back-to-back games in the title matchup.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
The moniker was starting to get worn out.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2026
The couple had worn out two other belts beating their children, the prosecutor said.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Sure, Diggs — with more time between and having definitely worn out his welcome in Minnesota — and Bradbury won’t bring the same kind of feelings as Darnold holding up a trophy at the end.
—Brian Hall, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
Towels and bathmats that are old, worn out, or very basic can drag down the overall aesthetic of a bathroom.
—Nomita Vaish-Taylor, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
User @briadeshaun took a more relatable route and impersonated an out-of-shape owl, worn out from flying and repeatedly panting to catch its breath.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Rentals tend to be shabby and worn-out, so choosing a home with the latest and greatest felt like a way to make the experience hassle-free.
—Jason Fried, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Characterized by their faded or worn-out effect, as if their original color had been lightened by washing, these beloved jeans stand out for their vintage and carefree air.
—Mayte Salido, Glamour, 4 Jan. 2026
Palestinians have long called for mobile homes and caravans to be allowed in to protect them against living in impractical and worn-out tents.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2026
By contrast, the U.S. Air Force has only 16 serviceable AWACS, and these are the nearly obsolete and badly worn-out E-3G Sentry.
—Justin Bronk, Foreign Affairs, 15 Dec. 2025
But faulty or worn-out tubes can result in water spewing onto sidewalks, Choltko explains.
—Yvette Fernandez, NPR, 28 Aug. 2025
Enduring a week’s worth of cold water plunges can jolt the body’s cells into starting the process of autophagy to clean up and recycle old, worn-out, and broken parts, according to a new study.
—New Atlas, 31 Mar. 2025
Balenciaga, too, offered its takes on tailoring, opening its maze-like runway with slim, simple suits — some hand-creased, others worn-out — that felt less provocative than its usual offerings.
—Alice Pfeiffer, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025
Most recently, my lack of preparation has left me with a minimal and worn-out rotation of winter travel clothes — a major dilemma, considering there are several weeks left of frigid temperatures ahead of me.
—Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
After this weekend, when the Producers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild hand out their highly predictive precursors, the final shape of the Oscar race should be (reasonably) clear — and nominees worn out by months of campaigning will be breathing a sigh of relief.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2026
If your utensils have worn out their welcome, swap them with these non-toxic tools to cook without worries.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 2026
Veterans worn out by last game In this three-team, four-quarter format, someone from Game 3 was always going to have to play in back-to-back games in the title matchup.
—David K. Li, NBC news, 16 Feb. 2026
The moniker was starting to get worn out.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 15 Feb. 2026
The couple had worn out two other belts beating their children, the prosecutor said.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Sure, Diggs — with more time between and having definitely worn out his welcome in Minnesota — and Bradbury won’t bring the same kind of feelings as Darnold holding up a trophy at the end.
—Brian Hall, Twin Cities, 5 Feb. 2026
Towels and bathmats that are old, worn out, or very basic can drag down the overall aesthetic of a bathroom.
—Nomita Vaish-Taylor, The Spruce, 31 Jan. 2026
User @briadeshaun took a more relatable route and impersonated an out-of-shape owl, worn out from flying and repeatedly panting to catch its breath.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worn-out
Adjective
-
Simmons said Tarrant families are tired of O’Hare’s bullying, silencing and antics.—
Rachel Royster
March 5,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Mar. 2026
-
His poor metrics are the result of the Panthers looking tired and worn down in front of him, and Bobrovsky not being consistently at his absolute best.—
Jesse Granger,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Elsewhere, Jenna Ortega’s tattered Christian Cowan slip dress featured a thigh-high slit that would make Jolie proud.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The green cornice crowning the roofline had begun to fade, while layers of black paint and tattered posters peeled from the building’s exterior.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Liu’s jacket—worn open over a white crewneck tee—featured a breast pocket bearing the house’s telltale LV monogram.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Now can brands get to work on re-issuing every single item worn in the original Devil Wears Prada?—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Players and snaps added or lost are via the portal only (numbers do not include players lost due to exhausted eligibility or draft declarations).—
Manny Navarro,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Each diagnosis brings its own set of decisions, procedures and treatments that quite frankly leave me feeling physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted.—
L'Oreal Thompson Payton,
SELF,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Use clean, sharp pruners to cut a smooth edge right above a living bud, lateral branch, or along the trunk where there is a ragged break.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
22 Feb. 2026
-
In the absence of pro hoops, ABC found itself with a ragged hole in its Sunday afternoon schedule, which an exec named Dick Button proposed to fill by way of a new show titled The Superstars.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Four civilians died in the UAE, while two members of its armed forces were killed when a malfunctioning helicopter crashed.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The Pentagon identified the seventh soldier killed in the Iran war as Army Sgt.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Something weary about his body too.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Its 1959 Googie-style sign pierces the sky, a beacon of hope for weary road-trippers cruising this achingly lonely stretch of highway.—
Zoey Goto,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Groom indoor plants to remove yellowing leaves and faded blooms.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Before the third siren at seven o’clock Chitol parked his bicycle alongside hundreds of others like it, his identified by a faded yellow piece of his wife’s old sari around the handlebars, which doubled as a duster.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worn-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worn-out. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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