Definitions

well-worn

[wel-wawrn, -wohrn] / ˈwɛlˈwɔrn, -ˈwoʊrn /

ADJECTIVE

boring

Synonyms

STRONGEST

dull humdrum lifeless monotonous mundane stale stodgy stuffy stupid tame tedious tiresome tiring trite uninteresting

STRONG

bomb bummer cloying commonplace dead drab drag drudging flat nothing nowhere plebeian routine stereotyped zero

WEAK

arid bromidic characterless colorless ho-hum insipid interminable irksome mid moth-eaten platitudinous prosaic repetitious spiritless threadbare unexciting unvaried vapid wearisome

Antonyms

STRONGEST

bright current eventful exciting intelligent interesting lively new smart

STRONG

different unusual

WEAK

fascinating

ADJECTIVE

bromidic

Synonyms

WEAK

banal clichéd commonplace dull hackneyed overused platitudinal platitudinous prosaic shopworn stale stereotyped stereotypic stereotypical stock threadbare timeworn tired unimaginative unoriginal warmed-over worn-out

ADJECTIVE

hackneyed

Synonyms

STRONGEST

banal corny stale threadbare timeworn trite

WEAK

antiquated common commonplace conventional everyday familiar tune hokey moth-eaten obsolete old old-hat out-of-date outdated outmoded overworked pedestrian played-out quotidian run-of-the-mill stereotyped stock unoriginal worn-out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fresh new original

WEAK

uncommon

ADJECTIVE

overused

Synonyms

STRONG

drained dull mildewed stale stock

WEAK

banal bromidic clichéd common cornball corny familiar tune flat hackneyed hokey jejune moth-eaten musty old hat ordinary platitudinal platitudinous prosaic ready-made run-of-the-mill shopworn threadbare timeworn uninspired unoriginal used-up vapid warmed-over worn-out

Antonyms

STRONG

active different energized fresh invigorated lively new refreshed unused

ADJECTIVE

platitudinal

Synonyms

WEAK

banal bathetic bromidic cliched clichéd common commonplace cornball corny drained dull exhausted familiar tune flat hackneyed hokey jejune mildewed moth-eaten musty old hat ordinary overused overworked pedestrian platitudinous prosaic ready-made routine run-of-the-mill set shopworn stale stereotyped stereotypic stereotypical stock threadbare timeworn tired uninspired unoriginal used-up vapid warmed-over worn worn-out

ADJECTIVE

platitudinous

Synonyms

WEAK

banal bathetic bromidic clichéd common commonplace cornball corny drained dull exhausted familiar tune flat hackneyed hokey jejune mildewed moth-eaten musty old hat ordinary overused overworked pedestrian platitudinal prosaic ready-made routine run-of-the-mill set shopworn stale stereotyped stereotypic stereotypical stock threadbare timeworn tired uninspired unoriginal used-up vapid warmed-over worn worn-out

ADJECTIVE

stale

Synonyms

STRONGEST

corny dull hackneyed shopworn threadbare tired

STRONG

antiquated bent out stereotyped

WEAK

banal cliché cliché-ridden clichéd common commonplace dead drab dusty effete flat fusty insipid like a dinosaur mawkish moth-eaten passé past platitudinous repetitious timeworn trite unoriginal worn-out yesterday's zestless

Antonyms

STRONGEST

active fresh new original

WEAK

current underused

ADJECTIVE

stereotyped

Synonyms

STRONGEST

corny

STRONG

dull mass-produced overused stale standardized stock tired

WEAK

banal cliché-ridden clichéd commonplace hackneyed ordinary platitudinous played-out threadbare trite unoriginal worn thin worn-out

Antonyms

STRONG

active fresh

WEAK

different dissimilar unconventional unlike

ADJECTIVE

stereotypical

Synonyms

STRONGEST

archetypal characteristic common customary ordinary prototypical stereotypic stock traditional typical usual

STRONG

routine

WEAK

banal bromidic clichéd cornball corny drained dull familiar tune flat hackneyed hokey jejune mildewed moth-eaten musty old hat overused platitudinal platitudinous prosaic ready-made run-of-the-mill shopworn stale threadbare timeworn uninspired unoriginal used-up vapid warmed-over worn-out

ADJECTIVE

threadbare

Synonyms

STRONGEST

musty stale

WEAK

banal bathetic cliché cliché-ridden clichéd common commonplace conventional dull everyday familiar hackneyed imitative moth-eaten overused poor set stereotyped stock tedious tired uncreative worn-out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

new

WEAK

fresh unused unworn

ADJECTIVE

trite

Synonyms

STRONGEST

banal corny dull hackneyed

WEAK

bathetic bromidic chain cliché clichéd common cornball drained exhausted familiar tune flat hokey jejune mildewed moth-eaten musty old hat ordinary pedestrian platitudinous prosaic ready-made routine run-of-the-mill set shopworn stale stereotyped stock threadbare timeworn tired uninspired unoriginal used-up vapid warmed-over worn worn-out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fresh new original

WEAK

desirable important impressive pertinent relevant uncommon

ADJECTIVE

unimaginative

Synonyms

STRONGEST

banal hackneyed tedious trite uninspired

WEAK

barren bromidic common commonplace derivative dime a dozen dry dull as dishwater flat ho-hum lifeless matter-of-fact ordinary pabulum pedestrian prosaic routine square tame uncreative unoriginal unromantic usual vanilla zero

Antonyms

STRONGEST

fresh new original uncommon

WEAK

creative imaginative

ADJECTIVE

warmed-over

Synonyms

WEAK

banal bathetic bromidic clichéd common commonplace cornball corny drained dull exhausted familiar tune flat hackneyed hokey jejune mildewed moth-eaten musty old hat ordinary overused overworked pedestrian platitudinal platitudinous prosaic ready-made routine run-of-the-mill set shopworn stale stereotyped stereotypic stereotypical stock threadbare timeworn tired uninspired unoriginal used-up vapid worn worn-out

ADJECTIVE

weariful

Synonyms

WEAK

arid bomb bromidic characterless colorless commonplace drab drag drear dreary drudging dry dull flat ho-hum humdrum insipid interminable irksome lifeless monotonous moth-eaten mundane nothing nowhere platitudinous plebeian prosaic repetitious routine spiritless stale stereotyped stodgy stuffy stupid tame tedious threadbare tiresome tiring trite unexciting uninteresting unvaried vapid wearisome weary

ADJECTIVE

worn

Synonyms

STRONGEST

frayed shabby tattered threadbare timeworn

STRONG

beat bushed busted consumed depleted destroyed deteriorated dinged drained drawn exhausted fatigued gone jaded overused overworked pinched ragged ruined shot spent stale the worse for wear 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

ADJECTIVE

worn/worn-out

Synonyms

WEAK

beat burned out bushed busted clichéd consumed depleted destroyed deteriorated drained drawn effete exhausted fatigued frayed gone hackneyed had it haggard jaded kaput knocked out old out of gas overused overworked pinched played-out pooped ragged ruined shabby shot spent stale tattered the worse for wear threadbare timeworn tired out totaled used-up useless wearied weary wiped-out worn-down wrung out

Antonyms

WEAK

fresh new 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.

Other chapters pore over such well-worn topics as the surge of elite-college graduates to Wall Street and the habits of Big Law.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

Jost’s Hegseth stuck to a now well-worn bit: an oversized glass of “scotch” in hand, he “took questions” from the press while mostly ignoring them, pivoting instead to insults and non-answers.

From Salon • May 3, 2026

But the carrier would be taking a well-worn page from the playbook that major U.S. airlines have followed in recent months.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 22, 2026

The latest financial results from the four largest U.S. banks show that consumers are “resilient,” to borrow the well-worn word that bank executives have used this week to describe how their clients are faring.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

She started digging into her coat pocket and pulled out a well-worn Uglydoll envelope with the word “Ellie” written on the outside in silver marker.

From "Auggie & Me" by R. J. Palacio

well-worn

Example Sentences

Related Words