threadbare
adjective
thread·bare
ˈthred-ˌber 
1
2
: exhausted of interest or freshness
threadbareness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of threadbare in a Sentence
bought a threadbare couch at a garage sale
a novel filled with nothing but threadbare clichés
Recent Examples on the Web
In the late ’70s, Hooper’s movie had made its way from first-run theaters to the threadbare drive-ins of New England.
—
Chris Nashawaty, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2024
Nonprofits offer a wide but threadbare safety net Across the U.S., nonprofit agencies offer a range of services to people who are homeless, including shelter, housing, rehabilitation, job training and counseling.
—Morvarid Rahmani, The Conversation, 25 July 2024
Johnson was presiding over a threadbare caucus in which a motion against his job was a daily threat.
—Juliegrace Brufke, Axios, 25 July 2024
But, with fears that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine might one day spread into other parts of Europe, military officials say the British armed forces remain dangerously threadbare.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 5 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for threadbare 
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Chris Nashawaty, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2024
Nonprofits offer a wide but threadbare safety net Across the U.S., nonprofit agencies offer a range of services to people who are homeless, including shelter, housing, rehabilitation, job training and counseling.
—Morvarid Rahmani, The Conversation, 25 July 2024
Johnson was presiding over a threadbare caucus in which a motion against his job was a daily threat.
—Juliegrace Brufke, Axios, 25 July 2024
But, with fears that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine might one day spread into other parts of Europe, military officials say the British armed forces remain dangerously threadbare.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 5 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for threadbare
Articles Related to threadbare
Dictionary Entries Near threadbare
Cite this Entry
“Threadbare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threadbare. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
threadbare
adjective
thread·bare
ˈthred-ˌba(ə)r
-ˌbe(ə)r
1
: worn so much that the thread shows : shabby
threadbare clothes
2
: barely adequate
a threadbare store with few items
a threadbare event lacking excitement
3
: having lost freshness and interest from overuse
threadbare jokes
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