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 decayed, decrepit, or outdated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 Word Forms

• unmoth-eaten adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of moth-eaten¹

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

Biden summoned reporters on short notice after Hur cleared him of criminal wrongdoing for mishandling classified documents — and painted him as a moth-eaten, doddering geriatric.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

After about four hours, he found his name on the last page of a moth-eaten book.

Read more on BBC

A tattered, moth-eaten construct that looks like it’s been cobbled together from the spare-parts bin at the $1.98 Special Effects House at the intersection of Shabby Lane and Threadbare Thoroughfare.

Read more on Seattle Times

Their long, scraggly hair streamed behind them like raggedy, moth-eaten capes as they flew at us.

Read more on Literature

I saw something like them in Hampton Court, but there they were worn and frayed and moth-eaten.

Read more on Literature