threadbare
thread·bare/ˈθɹɛdˌbɛ(ə)ɹ/adjective
threadbare is spelled T-H-R-E-A-D-B-A-R-E: 10 letters and 2 syllables (thread·bare). It appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 57,423rd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, threadbare means “Of cloth, clothing, furnishings, etc.: frayed and worn to an extent that the nap is damaged and the warp and weft threads show; shabby, worn-out” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in threadbare?
| Letters | 10: T-H-R-E-A-D-B-A-R-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: thread·bare |
| In writing | about once in every 4 million words; the 57,423rd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is threadbare?
Threadbare appears about once in every 4 million words in written English, the 57,423rd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce threadbare?
- UK /ˈθɹɛdbɛə/
- UK /-bɛː/
- US /ˈθɹɛdˌbɛ(ə)ɹ/
Threadbare has 2 syllables, split thread·bare in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-threadbare.wav, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of threadbare
- more threadbare comparative
- most threadbare superlative
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does threadbare mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Of cloth, clothing, furnishings, etc.: frayed and worn to an extent that the nap is damaged and the warp and weft threads show; shabby, worn-out.
- 2
In poor condition; damaged, shabby; also, poorly equipped or provided for, inadequate, meagre, scanty.
- 3
Of an argument, excuse, etc.: used so often that it is no longer effective or interesting; banal, clichéd, trite.
- 4
An argument or assertion with little in the way of substance or supporting evidence.
- 5
archaicobsoleteOf a person: wearing clothes of threadbare (sense 1) material; hence, impoverished, poor.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Threadbare in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense of cloth, etc.: frayed and worn to an extent that the nap is damaged and the war:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | élimé |
| German | fadenscheinig |
| Portuguese | puído |
| Spanish | raído |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.