worn-out 1 of 2

adjective

ˈwȯrn-ˈau̇t How to pronounce worn-out (audio)
Definition of worn-outnext
1
as in tired
depleted in strength, energy, or freshness worn-out tourists heading back to their hotel after a hard day of sightseeing

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

worn out

2 of 2

verb

past participle of wear out
as in worn
to use up all the physical energy of keeping up with twin toddlers wears me out

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of worn-out
Adjective
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 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
Verb
Eva’s struggle is that of women worn out between mental load, society’s expectations and their own dreams. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2026 Additionally, the internal switches could have fused shut or worn out. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for worn-out
Recent Examples of Synonyms for worn-out
  1. tired
  2. tattered
  3. worn
  4. exhausted
  5. ragged
  6. killed
  7. weary
  8. faded
Adjective
  • Pinterest says Gen Z and Millennials are putting their own spins on trends rather than copying them, a sign that visible under-eyes and lived-in finishes could outlast the tired girl label itself.
    — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Republican president looks increasingly tired and running out of steam, has not introduced any major new initiatives and could see the political writing on the wall.
    — Joe Battenfeld, Mercury News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • On a recent afternoon, the lanky, mustachioed Zucker, wearing a T-shirt, ballcap and small hoop earrings, bears little resemblance to his comic alter ego who sports a tattered suit with gag props stuffed in every pocket.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • For weeks, migrants in the Spanish territory of Ceuta had gathered on a beach away from the city center, sleeping on cardboard sheets, under reed huts and guarding their few possessions in tattered plastic bags.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of tattered
Verb
  • Is the tiara worn by Wonder Woman inspired by that of Grand Duchess Charlotte?
    — Giorgia Olivieri, Vanity Fair, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The backpack should sit at waist level, fit snugly against the back, and be worn with both padded shoulder straps, not over one shoulder.
    — Michael Swartzon, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of worn
Adjective
  • The offense was unproductive, the bullpen exhausted and starters gassed after several extra-inning games and three sticky games against the Cardinals.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Such weapons are proving increasingly difficult for Kyiv to shoot down, with supplies of US Patriot interceptors – one of the few systems capable of taking down ballistic missiles pretty much exhausted.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of exhausted
Adjective
  • Cutting back is done in mid-summer when foliage looks ragged and blooming slows to increase plant vigor, control height, and encourage a second flush of blooms.
    — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Typically depicted with exaggerated features and ragged clothing – or no clothing at all – these children were often shown being chased by alligators or other wild animals.
    — The Conversation, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of ragged
Verb
  • Rob and Michelle Reiner were killed on December 14, 2025, and Nick is charged with two counts of murder.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Son of a partisan fighter The son of a World War Two partisan fighter killed in 1945, Mladic was an officer in the old communist Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) when Yugoslavia's disintegration began in 1991.
    — Ivana Sekularac, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of killed
Adjective
  • And Trump’s priority is to lower costs for inflation-weary consumers ahead of the midterms, just suspending tariffs on imports of up to 300,000 metric tons of ground beef to bring cheaper foreign meat into the market.
    — Diane Brady, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • As competition intensifies, Walmart and Kroger are lowering prices across the board to appeal to inflation-weary, cost-conscious consumers.
    — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of weary
Adjective
  • The team behind this research studied 14 candidates for faded or remnant radio galaxies found in a region of the sky over Earth, studied intensely by the XMM-Newton X-ray spacecraft, called the XMM–Newton Large-Scale Structure (XMM–LSS) field.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • How to Deadhead Coneflowers Deadheading coneflowers is as simple as removing the faded flower heads.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of faded

Browse Nearby Words

worn on
worn-out
worn out
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Cite this Entry

“Worn-out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/worn-out. Accessed 30 Aug. 2026.

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