hoary

[ hawr-ee, hohr-ee ]

adjective

, hoar·i·er, hoar·i·est.

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.

hoary

/ ˈhɔːrɪ /

adjective

1. having grey or white hair
2. white or whitish-grey in colour
3. ancient or venerable

Derived Forms

• ˈhoarily, adverb
• ˈhoariness, noun

Other Words From

• hoari·ly adverb
• hoari·ness noun
• un·hoary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoary¹

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

Example Sentences

Colleagues say Schumer’s hoary bromides and constant solicitousness mask a fierce intelligence–one smart enough to know that people prefer feeling like they’re being heard to feeling like they’re being led.

From Time

“Canary in the coal mine” has become a hoary environmental saw.

From Nautilus

I tried to avoid famously hoary puns like “Tequila Mockingbird” or “My Corona,” though I didn’t insist that some joke had never been made before by anyone ever.

From Washington Post

This is just one of those cases when the hoary cliché is true.

From The Daily Beast

Every president and political movement, of course, brings to power an often-hoary group of grasping interest groups.

From The Daily Beast

The idea is an old one—or as the irritable Economist magazine calls it, “hoary.”

From The Daily Beast

Here we taste a mingling of modern elegance and hoary antiquity, such as has never ere now graced life for either of us.

From Project Gutenberg

Hoary sires crept along on their staffs, followed by sons and sons' sons and daughters also.

From Project Gutenberg

He describes the storm sweeping over the white-crested mountains till the earth, like a hoary king, trembles with fear.

From Project Gutenberg

Over the screen of trees you can see beautiful Delhi lying within its hoary walls.

From Project Gutenberg

She placed her hand lovingly on the edge of a hoary shutter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• age-old
• antiquated
• timeworn