dog-eared

adjective

ˈdȯg-ˌird 

1

: having dog-ears

a dog-eared book

2

: shabby, timeworn

a dog-eared resort

dog-eared myths

Synonyms

• beat-up
• bombed-out
• dilapidated
• down-at-the-heels
• down-at-heel
• down-at-the-heel
• down-at-heels
• dumpy
• grungy
• mangy
• mean
• miserable
• moth-eaten
• neglected
• ratty
• run-down
• scrubby
• scruffy
• seedy
• shabby
• sleazy
• tacky
• tatterdemalion
• tatty
• threadbare
• timeworn
• tumbledown

Examples of dog-eared in a Sentence

an old dog-eared copy of a beloved book

Recent Examples on the Web

Novel as the experience is for her, the spookiness surrounding it is as familiar and dog-eared as scripture: creepy nuns, ominous robed figures, lots of cheap jump scares. —A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2024

Tampa Bay is still a very good team, even if a bit dog-eared around the edges of its elite personnel. —Kevin Paul Dupont, BostonGlobe.com, 27 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1767, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

dog-eared

adjective

ˈdȯ-ˌgi(ə)rd

1

: having dog-ears

2

: worn-out from too much use