hoary

American  

[hawr-ee, hohr-ee] / ˈhɔr i, ˈhoʊr i /

adjective

hoarier, hoariest

1. gray or white with age.

   an old dog with a hoary muzzle.

   Synonyms:

   hoar , grizzly , grizzled

2. ancient or venerable.

   hoary myths.

   Synonyms:

   revered , aged , dated , old

3. tedious from familiarity; stale.

   Please don't tell that hoary joke at dinner again tonight.

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hoary British  

/ ˈhɔːrɪ /

adjective

1. having grey or white hair

2. white or whitish-grey in colour

3. ancient or venerable

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Other Word Forms

• hoarily adverb
• hoariness noun
• unhoary adjective

Etymology

Origin of hoary

First recorded in 1520–30; hoar + -y ¹

Example Sentences

This hoary habit embodies the conservative philosophy of family life.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Spring” is a densely packed wall, interrupted by two doorways, which causes Ms. Yukhnovich’s floral interventions to cluster particularly close together, suggesting the sudden bursting forth of life following the hoary months.

From The Wall Street Journal

But sometime over this last winter — that numbing, hoary stretch between mid-February and March — I decided this might be the year to reclaim a bit of seasonal delight.

From Salon

One hates to indulge hoary ideas about happiness being bad for songwriters.

From Los Angeles Times

He is a hoary phoenix rising from the ashes of his own stench so often he resembles the s**t demon in “Dogma.”

From Salon

Related Words

• age-old
• antiquated
• timeworn