threadbare
adjective
thread·bare
ˈthred-ˌber 
1
2
: exhausted of interest or freshness
threadbareness
noun
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
The messaging effort comes as Republicans scramble to hold onto threadbare congressional majorities in the November midterms.
—
Steven Sloan,
Fortune,
2 July 2026
If they're stained, threadbare, or no longer absorb water, consider retiring them.
—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
1 July 2026
Critics say Beijing’s promise to allow the city to maintain its Western-style civil liberties after the 1997 handover is increasingly threadbare.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
In fashion terms, this involves grabbing that six-pack of seamless underwear to replace your now-threadbare collection, or else replenishing your leggings drawer with new, chic picks whose buttery softness will stand the test of time.
—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
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Steven Sloan,
Fortune,
2 July 2026
If they're stained, threadbare, or no longer absorb water, consider retiring them.
—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
1 July 2026
Critics say Beijing’s promise to allow the city to maintain its Western-style civil liberties after the 1997 handover is increasingly threadbare.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
In fashion terms, this involves grabbing that six-pack of seamless underwear to replace your now-threadbare collection, or else replenishing your leggings drawer with new, chic picks whose buttery softness will stand the test of time.
—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for threadbare
Cite this Entry
“Threadbare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threadbare. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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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