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the worse for wear

ADJECTIVE
worn-out
Synonyms
STRONGEST
battered crumbling decaying dilapidated run-down worn
WEAK
broken-down decrepit deteriorated falling apart falling down in disrepair in ruins overused ramshackle used
ADJECTIVE
worn
Synonyms
STRONGEST
frayed shabby tattered threadbare timeworn well-worn
STRONG
beat bushed busted consumed depleted destroyed deteriorated dinged drained drawn exhausted fatigued gone jaded overused overworked pinched ragged ruined shot spent stale tired totaled wearied weary
WEAK
burned out clichéd effete hackneyed had it haggard kaput knocked out old pegged out played-out pooped tired out used-up useless wiped-out worn-down worn-out wrung out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fresh new
STRONG
energetic energized intact invigorated lively refreshed rested restored unused

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

German biathlete Justus Strelow, who won bronze in the mixed relay on Sunday, happened to catch the moment his medal came out the worse for wear after celebrating with his teammates.

From Barron's • Feb. 9, 2026

Compared with control samples, the samples that got the aging treatment emerged looking the worse for wear.

From Science Daily • Apr. 29, 2024

Across the road there is a small forest of concrete towers without paint, without windows and with window frames now looking the worse for wear, having been exposed to the elements.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2023

Bell didn’t appear to be the worse for wear while playing in 63 of the Jets’ 70 offensive snaps in their 26-18 loss to the previously winless Miami Dolphins on Sunday.

From Reuters • Nov. 4, 2019

Winnie did not seem the worse for wear from her prison experience.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

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