1
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect
bought a threadbare couch at a garage sale
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stereotyped
used or heard so often as to be dull
a novel filled with nothing but threadbare clichés
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in tattered
worn or torn into or as if into rags
I loved that threadbare shirt, but after 10 years of wear, it was time to throw it away
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4
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
never knew that she had so many threadbare relatives until she won the lottery
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of threadbare
This score, too, is remarkably threadbare.
—
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
But China’s issue is especially acute, with a growing cohort of retirees and a shrinking number of workers, all grappling with a threadbare social-safety net.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Parrish stood at the wheel, his gimlet eyes surveying the water beneath a threadbare Pink Floyd cap.
—Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
The threadbare ballads from ’90s indie rock records that could have been breakthrough hits if presented in slightly cleaner fidelity.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
But China’s issue is especially acute, with a growing cohort of retirees and a shrinking number of workers, all grappling with a threadbare social-safety net.
—Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 19 Jan. 2026
Parrish stood at the wheel, his gimlet eyes surveying the water beneath a threadbare Pink Floyd cap.
—Henry Wismayer, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
The threadbare ballads from ’90s indie rock records that could have been breakthrough hits if presented in slightly cleaner fidelity.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Recent Examples of Synonyms for threadbare
Adjective
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The state Department of Corrections is in strikingly similar dire straits with dilapidated prisons and a decreasing number of COs.—
Steve Zeidman,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Ross saved the Miami Open, moving it from a dilapidated Key Biscayne venue, and retrofitting Hard Rock Stadium’s grounds for it.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Kelly Enders-Tharp, a three-time surrogate and education and experience specialist at Growing Generations, explains that surrogates are often stereotyped, or that their backgrounds are misrepresented.—
Kris Ann Valdez,
Parents,
13 Feb. 2026
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Later, Lenape artist Joe Baker places cutout photographs of his ancestors over the stereotyped images of Native Americans found in the wallpaper.—
Tom McDonough,
Artforum,
1 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Repairing the agency’s tattered credibility The CDC has long been the world’s pre-eminent public health agency.—
Helen Branswell,
STAT,
30 Mar. 2026
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But there’s a certain magic in the tattered, the torn, and the un-trashable gear in our closets.—
The Editors,
Outside,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Cities like Chicago — long a haven for Mexican immigrants with ties to families and a community — became landing spots for migrants from increasingly impoverished and authoritarian places such as Venezuela.—
Joe Mahr,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
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And because of their status, undocumented students are also more likely to come from impoverished backgrounds, says Caitlin Patler, a professor of public policy at UC Berkeley.—
Jonaki Mehta,
NPR,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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When first performed at L.A. Opera a decade ago, the lavish production, co-produced with English National Opera, helped recover a neglected opera.—
Classical Music Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
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His refusal to weaponize suffering is one of his most important — and most neglected— lessons.—
Ed Gaskin,
Boston Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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For workers who are tired of their jobs following them home every night, and for businesses that are tired of the burnout, the turnover, and the chaos that comes from not having boundaries, Zenzap is the work chat app that changes everything.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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One still gets tired of the Wednesday rice and fish dish.—
Jeremy O. Harris,
Vanity Fair,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Rustan picked Sugar up as a rescue from the streets of Los Angeles, the small pooch missing three of her bottom teeth and in ragged shape.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
30 Mar. 2026
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Getting the right amount of quality sleep can have huge health benefits, while getting poor sleep — or not enough — could leave you running ragged.—
Wakisha Bailey,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Serious Medical and Emotional Neglect Turner said Kaiko arrived in poor health, suffering from multiple medical issues and signs of prolonged neglect.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
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The city of Plano scores restaurants on a 100-point system, with 100 considered a perfect score and 70 extremely poor.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Threadbare.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/threadbare. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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