the worse for wear

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worn-out adj.
worn adj.

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

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the worse for wear

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

"Coming out of the water I really felt the worse for wear and my wife Mel said my eyes looked completely glazed over, as though I didn't recognise her at all," he added.

From BBC ● Sep. 4, 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

the worse for wear

Example Sentences

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