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
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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
How cancer starts Cells produce more cells to grow, replace older or worn-out cells or to repair damaged tissues.
—Julie Phillippi, The Conversation, 21 July 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
Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 11 May 2026
We were both worn out from work, so were looking for somewhere close and cozy.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
If any of the items are rusted, cracked, or worn out, now is a good time to replace them.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
Recent Pew Research Center polling said just over half of Americans feel worn out by news.
—Stacey Barchenger, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
To reinvigorate Kerr, who has appeared worn out at times this season, and who is working without a contract extension.
—Sports Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2026
He was worn out from that camp.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Similar robotics companies have already worn out their welcome in other US cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, as their delivery bots hog sidewalks, injure residents, and rampage through gardens.
—Joe Wilkins Published Mar 19, Futurism, 19 Mar. 2026
By the time that question is posed, however, the device has worn out its welcome, reiterating the basic fact of the academic’s desire over and over again without complications or narrative advancement.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Mar. 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
How cancer starts Cells produce more cells to grow, replace older or worn-out cells or to repair damaged tissues.
—Julie Phillippi, The Conversation, 21 July 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
Verb
The contemporary artist added that the shoes in the collection are meant to look worn out and discolored from walking through puddles and have marks on the sides colored with a pen.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 11 May 2026
We were both worn out from work, so were looking for somewhere close and cozy.
—Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 23 Apr. 2026
If any of the items are rusted, cracked, or worn out, now is a good time to replace them.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 18 Apr. 2026
Recent Pew Research Center polling said just over half of Americans feel worn out by news.
—Stacey Barchenger, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
To reinvigorate Kerr, who has appeared worn out at times this season, and who is working without a contract extension.
—Sports Columnist, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Apr. 2026
He was worn out from that camp.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 21 Mar. 2026
Similar robotics companies have already worn out their welcome in other US cities like Los Angeles and Chicago, as their delivery bots hog sidewalks, injure residents, and rampage through gardens.
—Joe Wilkins Published Mar 19, Futurism, 19 Mar. 2026
By the time that question is posed, however, the device has worn out its welcome, reiterating the basic fact of the academic’s desire over and over again without complications or narrative advancement.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worn-out
Adjective
-
The film, which stars Hannah Einbinder as a filmmaker tasked with revamping a tired summer camp horror franchise with its cryptic lead played by Gillian Anderson in tow, is set to make its way to theaters this August.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
14 May 2026
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Each day, after teaching classes for a local extension office, taking online courses and caring for everyone, Denise is just tired.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
At the No Doubt Experience in Las Vegas, an immersive pop-up staged by Vibee, a tattered itinerary from the band’s first tour lists a show at the Shark Club in February 1992.—
Leena Tailor,
Rolling Stone,
8 May 2026
-
The sweater now has a deep V-neck with stylishly tattered edges, which Andy pairs with a button-down shirt and jeans.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Founder of Stubbs & Wooton and known for resurrecting the velvet slipper as a fashion staple, Steinhart’s slippers have been worn by Lady Gaga, Anne Hathaway and the former king of Spain.—
Kaitlyn Keegan,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
-
It is worn by each girl in turn in order to stage herself as stylish and desirable.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
Adjective
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But crucially, people are very exhausted by the amount of noise online and by AI slop.—
Angela Yang,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
-
For just one example of how this firehose of data is expected to transform our understanding of the cosmos, consider supernovas, the brilliant death throes of exhausted stars.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
In goes a scoop of lard, then eight corn tortillas, fanned out and briskly dressed with onions, salsas rojo and verde, and ragged strips of beef.—
Ligaya Mishan,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Few have gotten more out of three ragged chords than Diamond did in his first Top 10 single.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Once troopers arrived, Williams raised the firearm and pointed it toward police before Blanchette shot and killed her, the report said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
-
Israeli attacks have killed nearly four hundred people since April 16th and Israel’s forces have continued to destroy villages and consolidate territorial gains in southern Lebanon.—
Sudarsan Raghavan,
New Yorker,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
Midway through the fourth quarter, there appeared perhaps the worst turnover sequence of all, Reaves having a layup blocked by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Alex Caruso racing downcourt for an uncontested dunk while a clearly weary James walked behind him.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
Yet the addendum makes DeVaux a little weary.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
When deadheading, cut where the blossom's stem joins the rest of the plant—in other words, remove not only the faded flower, but the tiny stem attached to it as well.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
10 May 2026
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Next to the dog, a faded print of Big Ben, and a commemorative plate with the late Queen Elizabeth II smiling from nine different decades.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Worn-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worn-out. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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