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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of moth-eaten
When clothing is moth-eaten, see Ronald Moore at French-American Reweaving Co. (119 W. 57th St.; 212-765-4670).
—
The Editors, Curbed, 9 May 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for moth-eaten
Adjective
-
Or why roads and other critical infrastructure projects now take untold years and insane amounts of money to complete, and by the time they are finally opened are already rendered all but obsolete?—
-
The electrical infrastructure was obsolete, deemed undersized and non-compliant with current code.—
Adjective
-
In this way, abandoned and often dilapidated homes are saved and renovated rather than being left to further deteriorate or be torn down.—
-
To find her, Luis becomes embedded with an outlaw band of ravers, who cross the Moroccan desert in huge, dilapidated trucks.—
Adjective
-
Later, Lenape artist Joe Baker places cutout photographs of his ancestors over the stereotyped images of Native Americans found in the wallpaper.—
-
Several leaders described the pressure of being both highly visible and easily stereotyped.—
Adjective
-
Rejecting the streamlining and modernizing approach of many recent translations, Mendelsohn artfully reproduces the epic’s formal qualities—meter, enjambment, alliteration, assonance—and in so doing restores to Homer’s masterwork its archaic grandeur.—
-
Nearly 20 years later, the law may seem archaic, the Enquirer previously reported, and may be a violation of the First Amendment.—
Adjective
-
The narrative highlights the growing, unseen populations of lonely and neglected individuals, shedding light on a vital but often ignored aspect of public care.—
-
Over six years, Papp and Archie fostered 120 dogs and cats, and the owner said Archie was a major reason some of the most neglected and frightened animals went on to live full and happy lives.—
Adjective
-
The first turned a fourth-quarter fumble into a 59-yard score when Achane burst through a tired, and seemingly defeated Buffalo defensive front and outsprinted the Bills’ entire secondary to the end zone.—
-
But that feels like a tired, outdated characterisation.—
Adjective
-
The pair led City to the Third Division title in May 1985, but triumph turned to tragedy on the final day of the season as the antiquated main stand caught fire with devastating consequences.—
-
Insufferable antiquated federal standards reflect low expectations that do not meet the modern day needs of working New Yorkers.—
Adjective
-
This is actually better than some of the hackneyed rom-coms Reiner muddled through, a coming-of-age story about two kids’ pseudo-love story from grade school through middle school.—
-
On the first real mission in the jungle region of Fury Green, Samus encounters a Galactic Federation technician named Myles Mackenzie who, from his reveal in the pre-release previews, became a sticking point for fans due to his hackneyed sidekick trappings.—
Cite this Entry
“Moth-eaten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/moth-eaten. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share