Meaning & use

threadbare

adjective·Academic

Worn so thin that the underlying threads show, or so overused as to be unconvincing.

See it in a sentence

He wore a threadbare coat that had clearly survived many winters.

Her threadbare excuse for missing the meeting fooled no one.

A note on using this word

Often used figuratively for arguments or excuses that have been repeated so often they have lost all force.

Words with a similar meaning

wornshabby

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

newpristine

Make it your own

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