outworn

American  

[out-wawrn, -wohrn] / ˈaʊtˈwɔrn, -ˈwoʊrn /

adjective

1. out-of-date, outmoded, or obsolete.

   outworn ideas; outworn methods.

2. worn-out, as clothes.

3. exhausted in strength or endurance, as persons.

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verb

1. past participle of outwear.

outworn British  

/ ˌaʊtˈwɔːn, ˈaʊtwɔːn /

adjective

1. no longer accepted, used, believed, etc; obsolete or outmoded

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Other Word Forms

• unoutworn adjective

Etymology

Origin of outworn

First recorded in 1555–65; out- + worn

Example Sentences

Setting recent works among older ones is an effective element of LACMA’s overall plan to shed outworn hierarchies.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

“I had outworn my usefulness,” Watt said of his decision, adding that others “wouldn’t get off my case” about his insulting coal advisory panel comment.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 8, 2023

Could I remount the river of my years To the first fountain of our smiles and tears I would not trace again its stream of hours Between its outworn banks of withered flowers.

From Salon • Dec. 25, 2021

That “hacky, grinding, stinking, outworn, spaceship yarn,” as science fiction author Wilson Tucker memorably put it when he coined the term in 1941.

From Washington Post • Dec. 17, 2021

Gradually the plant engineer removed the tubing to use to patch other outworn equipment at the Hediondo.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck

Related Words

• ancient
• antique
• archaic
• corny
• dated
• odd
• old
• old-time
• outdated
• outmoded
• primitive