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

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

His commanding officer was at the party and also rather the worse for wear.

From BBC • Sep. 21, 2019

She returned to work, appearing none the worse for wear, but was out of work again on a leave of absence during July and August 1948.

From "Hidden Figures" by Margot Lee Shetterly

the worse for wear

Example Sentences

Related Words