Meaning & use
mothier
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“mothier” is a form of “mothy”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
adjectivecomparablerareBritishhumorous
More damaged by moths, with more small holes, than something else; also used figuratively for something that feels older or more neglected.
Grammar: This is the comparative of 'mothy'. Use it before a noun or after 'be', often with 'than': 'This coat is mothier than that one.'
Patterns
- mothier than something
- a mothier coat
- look mothier
This old sweater is even mothier than the one I threw away.
The attic smelled musty, and the blankets up there looked mothier every year.
His second-hand suit was a bit mothier than he had hoped.
Word forms
| base form | mothy |
|---|---|
| superlative | mothiest |
Common combinations
- a bit mothier
- The curtains in the spare room are a bit mothier than the ones downstairs.
- look mothier
- After another winter in storage, the wool blankets look mothier than ever.
- mothier than
- That jacket is mothier than the one you donated last year.
Synonyms and how they differ
- more moth-eaten
- This is the usual everyday way to say the same thing; 'mothier' is much rarer and sounds more playful or literary.
Word family
Commonly confused: mothier or mother?
mothier vs mother
These sound similar, but 'mother' means a female parent; 'mothier' means more damaged by moths.
Practice
What does 'mothier' mean in the sentence 'This blanket is mothier than the other one'?
Choose one answer.
'Mothier' is the comparative of 'mothy', meaning more damaged by moths, so it has more small holes. It is not about softness, price, or belonging to someone's mother.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “mothier”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.