shopworn

[ shop-wawrn, ‑-wohrn ]

adjective

1. worn worn or marred, as goods exposed and handled in a store.
2. trite; hackneyed.

shopworn

/ ˈʃɒpˌwɔːn /

adjective

1. the US word for shopsoiled

Word History and Origins

Origin of shopworn¹

First recorded in 1870–75; shop + worn

Example Sentences

His events combine the zeal of a religious revival meeting with a blunt political message: that Mr. Orban, 61, and his shopworn opponents in entrenched opposition parties have been around too long.

From New York Times

Although she states repeatedly that she doesn’t want to rely on the shopworn story of motherhood as the ultimate expression of the female experience, some passages flirt with this trope.

From Salon

“Knowledge is power” might be a shopworn cliché, but when it comes to emergencies, it’s absolutely true.

From Seattle Times

Yet his portraits often seem constrained within narrow, shopworn categories.

From New York Times

That's what they were allowed to be, because — and I'll trot out some shopworn industry phrases here — it was "part of their process," "how they accessed their art," or "how their genius manifested," etc.

From Salon

Related Words

• frayed
• stale
• tarnished
• trite