moth-eaten

[ mawth-eet-n, moth- ]

adjective

1. eaten or damaged by or as if by the larvae of moths.
2. decayed or worn out.
3. out of fashion; antiquated.

moth-eaten

adjective

1. decayed, decrepit, or outdated
2. eaten away by or as if by moths

Other Words From

• un·moth-eaten adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of moth-eaten¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

For a contemporary manifestation of this moth-eaten brand of tyranny, look no further than Hamas-ruled Gaza.

From The Daily Beast

I also saw the clerk busy folding up a moth-eaten velvet pall—not a sight for Christmas Day.

From Project Gutenberg

Come one, come all—all you moth-eaten, lousy stiffs from Stiffville.

From Project Gutenberg

In impatient haste he tossed out some old novels, caps, a blazer, a roll of moth-eaten bunting.

From Project Gutenberg

When we go to see them in the evening we find him wrapped in a moth-eaten gray coat and a cap on his head.

From Project Gutenberg

They had hurried on because they were anxious to bring the spoils of the chase to Simla ere the skins grew moth-eaten.

From Project Gutenberg