EN

Synonyms for threadbare

  • adjective

Most common

time-worn well-worn trite hackneyed

Synonyms by meaning

Adjective

1. Hackneyed — of an argument, excuse, etc., used so often that it is no longer effective or interesting; banal, clichéd…

hackneyed, well-worn, trite, time-worn, worn-out, commonplace, stale, tired, banal, shop-worn, worn, shabby, dog-eared, bare, nap-worn, old-hat, stock, seedy, overused, played out, overworked, common

2. Penniless — of a person, wearing clothes of threadbare (sense 1) material; hence, impoverished, poor

penniless, broke, down at heel

Antonyms

new, well-to-do, well-off

All antonyms of threadbare →

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Of an argument, excuse, etc.: used so often that it is no longer effective or interesting; banal, clichéd, trite.

  2. adj. 2

    Of a person: wearing clothes of threadbare (sense 1) material; hence, impoverished, poor.

Related words

Word family
threadbareness threadbarity

Example sentences

  • trite The "twin tiger cubs get separated ..." story felt a bit trite.
  • hackneyed A bad writer's prose is full of hackneyed phrases.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
threadbarerising
tritesteady
hackneyedsteady

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
worn1, bare1
5 letters
stock1, broke1, tired2, stale1, banal2, trite1, seedy2
6 letters
common2, shabby2
8 letters
overused3
9 letters
penniless3, hackneyed2
10 letters
overworked3
11 letters
commonplace3

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (tired2 = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français
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