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
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
His party has promised cuts to taxes and public spending, which some economists say are unrealistic given how threadbare budgets already are.
—NBC News, 4 July 2024
There are massive gaps in mental health care outside hospitals, too — from a shortage of spots in outpatient programs to a threadbare workforce.
—Angela Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for threadbare 
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
His party has promised cuts to taxes and public spending, which some economists say are unrealistic given how threadbare budgets already are.
—NBC News, 4 July 2024
There are massive gaps in mental health care outside hospitals, too — from a shortage of spots in outpatient programs to a threadbare workforce.
—Angela Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 18 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for threadbare
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'threadbare.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Threadbare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/threadbare. Accessed 12 Sep. 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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