moth-eaten

adjective

ˈmȯth-ˌē-tᵊn How to pronounce moth-eaten (audio)
Definition of moth-eatennext
1
as in obsolete
having passed its time of use or usefulness moth-eaten scientific theories that no one's believed in ages

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dilapidated
showing signs of advanced wear and tear and neglect a man who's been wearing the same moth-eaten clothes for decades

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stereotyped
used or heard so often as to be dull an uncle who tells the same moth-eaten stories every Thanksgiving

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for moth-eaten
  1. obsolete
  2. dilapidated
  3. stereotyped
  4. antiquated
  5. neglected
  6. archaic
  7. tired
  8. medieval
Adjective
  • New industries emerged, new roles were created, and while some jobs became obsolete, new opportunities arose.
    Timothy Papandreou, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
  • Shredders undoubtedly provide the most energy-efficient and environmentally responsible method to supply large volumes of obsolete metal as a raw material for the manufacture of new products.
    Steve Joseph, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of obsolete
Adjective
  • Farmers, migrant workers, nomadic groups and residents of remote villages encounter snakes in their dilapidated homes, while sleeping on the floor, using outdoor toilets or walking barefoot.
    Brian Otieno, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Since then, the concept has taken off in over 30 municipalities across northern and southern Italy, including the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, as a way to entice buyers to restore dilapidated structures.
    Megan Michelson, Outside Online, 18 Dec. 2024
Definition of dilapidated
Adjective
  • Founded by artists who grew up in Maryvale, Salcido said the purpose of Labor is to be the bridge that shows the artistic capacity and potential of Maryvale because the neighborhood is too often stereotyped, underrepresented and ignored.
    David Ulloa Jr, The Arizona Republic, 6 Dec. 2024
  • Chicano artists also critically reexamined stereotyped figures, such as the pachuco and pachuca, and retold current and historic events through artworks that questioned hegemonic narratives.
    Mary Thomas, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Definition of stereotyped
Adjective
  • Though the field was getting crowded with other companies and his original product was now antiquated, Hancock felt there was still plenty of room for innovation.
    Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 10 Jan. 2025
  • The movie was not selected by the antiquated process for Best International Feature Film by India (who went with Laapataa Ladies) or France (Emilia Pérez).
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 7 Jan. 2025
Definition of antiquated
Adjective
  • Lawmakers also met to better understand the difficulties counties face in finding temporary placements for neglected and special needs children.
    Christina Lengyel | The Center Square contributor, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 23 Dec. 2024
  • In the century that followed, amputation remained a neglected area of medicine.
    Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2024
Definition of neglected
Adjective
  • That led various departments to buy archaic typewriters, 28 kinds of typewriter ribbons, and 132 kinds of pencils.
    Bruce W. Dearstyne / Made by History, TIME, 13 Jan. 2025
  • In the immediate aftermath of the event, it was reported (including here and here and here), and then spread widely on social media, that this was because Southwest was still using an archaic version of Microsoft Windows that had never received the problematic CrowdStrike update.
    Suzanne Rowan Kelleher, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025
Definition of archaic
Adjective
  • In Germany in the early 1930s, many people were tired of violence, uncertainty, and a failing economy and hoped that a strong leader would heed their concerns and come up with new and effective solutions to bring better and calmer days.
    Margaret MacMillan, Foreign Affairs, 7 Jan. 2025
  • People are tired of prescribed approaches to their work.
    Glenn Llopis, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
Definition of tired
Adjective
  • Snaking through 10 countries and four capital cities (Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Belgrade) before emptying into the Black Sea—the Danube is the second-longest river in Europe, gliding past lush vineyards, medieval fortresses, and fairytale castles that have stood the test of time.
    Lewis Nunn, Forbes, 11 Jan. 2025
  • The novel takes place in a fantastical version of the medieval Islamic world, specifically on the Indian Ocean, where the titular captain, Amina, once helmed her own ship and crew.
    Vanessa Armstrong, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
Definition of medieval
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near moth-eaten

mothballs

moth-eaten

mother

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Cite this Entry

“Moth-eaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moth-eaten. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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