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

/ ˈθrɛdˌbɛə /

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

Derived Forms

• ˈthreadˌbareness, noun

Other Words From

• threadbareness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of threadbare¹

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

Example Sentences

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 Los Angeles Times

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 Los Angeles Times

As I slid the socks over my bare feet, cold and white in the brisk November air, I immediately knew they weren’t my lucky ones, which were far more threadbare than these plush imposters.

From Salon

The anti-vaccine camp has seized on the threadbare shibboleths of “medical freedom” and “health freedom” — or “bodily autonomy,” as Vance put it.

From Los Angeles Times

Etero manages a threadbare convenience store in a provincial village and spends most of her time alone, chasing birds and picking blackberries.

From New York Times

Related Words

• faded
• ratty
• scruffy
• shabby
• shopworn
• tacky
• tattered