thread
bare
Comparative
more threadbare
Superlative
most threadbare
1
tired, overused, or lacking in freshness or originality
- The politician's threadbare excuses for his absence failed to convince the voters, who saw through his insincerity.
- After years of neglect, the once-thriving neighborhood had become threadbare, with boarded-up shops and crumbling infrastructure.
- The comedian's routine relied on threadbare jokes that elicited more groans than laughter from the audience.
- The company's threadbare attempts to rebrand itself as environmentally friendly were met with skepticism by consumers who saw it as a mere marketing ploy.
- The teacher's threadbare lesson plan failed to engage the students, who were bored by the repetitive activities and outdated material.
2
worn out and thin to the point of becoming tattered
- He wrapped himself in a threadbare blanket that barely kept the cold out.
- The threadbare carpet in the hallway needed replacing after years of heavy foot traffic.
- Her threadbare coat was a reminder of how much she valued practicality over fashion.
- The curtains in the abandoned house were faded and threadbare, swaying gently in the breeze.