threadbare

adjective
UK: /ˈθred.beər/
US: /ˈθred.ber/

  1. Having fabric worn so thin that the threads show.

    1. His old coat was threadbare and patched.
    2. The threadbare carpet showed years of wear in the hallway of the old house.

  2. Used so often that it is no longer interesting or effective.

    1. The excuse about the dog eating my homework is threadbare now.
    2. His arguments were threadbare and unconvincing, failing to persuade anyone.

Synonyms

shabby hackneyed frayed stale worn

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "threadbare" in English means: Having fabric worn so thin that the threads show., Used so often that it is no longer interesting or effective..

The phonetic transcription of "threadbare" is /ˈθred.beər/ in British English and /ˈθred.ber/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "threadbare": shabby, hackneyed, frayed, stale, worn.

Example usage of "threadbare": "His old coat was threadbare and patched.". More examples on the page.