worn-out

American  

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

adjective

1. worn or used beyond repair.

2. depleted of energy, strength, or enthusiasm; exhausted; fatigued.

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worn-out British  

adjective

1. worn or used until threadbare, valueless, or useless

2. exhausted; very weary

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worn out Idioms  

1. see wear out.

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Etymology

Origin of worn-out

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

“Pavlov’s bulls came out in full force yesterday, ripping stocks at bad levels on the worn-out idea that geopolitics is always a fade,” said Brent Donnelly, president of Spectra Markets, in commentary shared with MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 3, 2026

But any film that hinges on its cast to prop up a worn-out narrative should be approached with suspicion, if approached at all.

From Salon • Jan. 4, 2026

A strategy that strengthens the body's natural capacity to replace worn-out mitochondria could, in principle, help address all of these problems at once.

From Science Daily • Nov. 27, 2025

It’s a clever line, but worn-out New Jerseyans seeking a change might be more likely to turn out if they knew how he’d deliver.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Francie looked and saw, not the baby’s foot, but a grotesque thing in a big, worn-out shoe.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Related Words

• battered
• crumbling
• decaying
• dilapidated
• run-down
• worn