Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

threadbare

[ thred-bair ]

adjective

  1. having the nap worn off so as to lay bare the threads of the warp and woof, as a fabric, garment, etc.
  2. wearing threadbare clothes; shabby or poor:

    a threadbare old man.

  3. meager, scanty, or poor:

    a threadbare emotional life.

  4. hackneyed; trite; ineffectively stale:

    threadbare arguments.



threadbare

/ ˈθɛˌɛə /

adjective

  1. (of cloth, clothing, etc) having the nap worn off so that the threads are exposed
  2. meagre or poor

    a threadbare existence

  3. hackneyed

    a threadbare argument

  4. wearing threadbare clothes; shabby
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ˈٳ𲹻ˌԱ, noun
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • ٳ𲹻bn noun
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of threadbare1

First recorded in 1325–75, threadbare is from the Middle English word thredbare. See thread, bare 1
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

At least one of those additions is likely to come at linebacker, where the Trojans’ depth is most threadbare.

From

His is a movie that brims with lyricism instead, and hangs on its threadbare plot these many poetic dichotomies.

From

America's already threadbare assertions that it believes in a rules-based international order would dissolve.

From

In terms of linear television, it’s more tent than tentpole, but the canvas is sound; there are no rips developing, no threadbare patches to let the rain in.

From

It’s entirely conceivable that he’ll buy into this new attempt to outlaw a safe and effective abortion procedure, and send the three states’ threadbare case back up the judicial pipeline.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


threadthread blight