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
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
Those worn out employees are 35% more likely to job hunt.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 20 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
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
Those worn out employees are 35% more likely to job hunt.
—Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worn-out
Adjective
-
For anyone who’s tired of layering in linen blankets and jute throw rugs, an accordion divider is another excellent option.—
Ashley Chalmers,
The Spruce,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Want a worker who always shows up, never says no, never gets sick, and can work without getting tired?—
Caleb Harris,
Austin American Statesman,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Enter Tyrannio, a Greek specialist in literature and libraries, owner of some 30,000 scrolls and famed expert on Aristotle — in fact, the same man responsible for restoring the philosopher’s tattered library after it was hauled to Rome.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
9 Feb. 2026
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Concerns about the project and the tattered state of the street have been raised at local community planning meetings, with some wondering whether the work had stalled for some reason.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This garment is worn across different generations of people and by people with completely different lifestyles.—
Luke Leitch,
Vogue,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Body worn camera video from the sergeant shows his hand being struck by gunfire and bleeding.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
And we're all exhausted by the endless division.—
DeJanay Booth-Singleton,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Fluid accumulated in his body, pushing his weight close to 240 pounds and leaving him exhausted and swollen.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Feb. 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
-
The Mexican army killed Oseguera Cervantes just over a week ago while attempting to capture him.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Amplifying the chaos were questions over who will replace Ali Khamenei, Iran’s late leader, who was killed in the aerial barrage over the weekend.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
They’re becoming energized by the change in mood among an extremely weary fan base that’s been subjected to plenty of losing.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Burger King advised local owners not to raise prices for inflation-weary consumers and suggested the investment will drive up sales.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
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
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The trembling bass mixed with faded talk-raps (somewhere between fakemink’s blurry party reports and SoundCloud-era Nav’s fame-hungry melodrama) feels like listening to Mustard’s pop-rap formula from inside the club bathroom.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worn-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worn-out. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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